The Commonwealth

The Coalition Government is committed to strengthening its commitments with the Commonwealth. As a member of the Commonwealth, the UK supports the Commonwealth Gender Plan of Action (2005-2015).

We work across the UK Government to implement our commitments in the Gender Plan of Action.  We also liaise across government to co-ordinate, negotiate and present the UK's position on gender equality, including the Women's Affairs Ministerial Meeting (WAMM) and the Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)

The CHOGM is the most important body of the Commonwealth.  The Heads of Government come together every two years to review global, political and economic developments and to conduct an overview of the Commonwealth's work in support of the interests of member countries. The last meeting was held in Perth, Western Australia in October 2011. The next meeting will be held in Sri Lanka in 2013.

More information about CHOGM 2011

Website of CHOGM 2011

Women's Affairs Ministers Meeting

Women's Affairs Ministers Meetings (WAMM) are held every three years in a different region of the Commonwealth and are attended by Ministers responsible for gender and women's affairs.

Summary of the last Women's Affairs Ministers Meeting

The Ninth Commonwealth Women's Affairs Ministers Meeting (9WAMM) was held in Barbados in June 2010.  The theme was 'Gender Issues in Economic Crisis, Recovery and Beyond: Women as Agents of Transformation'.

Delegations from 32 countries, including the United Kingdom, attended the Meeting.

More information about the main outputs of the meeting, including the Communiqué.

The mid term review of the plan of action for gender equality

The Commonwealth Plan of Action provides the framework for the Commonwealth to advance its commitment to gender equality.  The UK submitted its response to the mid-term review in December 2009.

More information including an analysis of Commonwealth Member Countries responses.