Commonwealth Day Message
from The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC,
Commonwealth Secretary-General
Too often, too many of us can think we’re powerless. This is particularly true
in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges such as climate change
or devastating events like the global pandemic. Especially in our current
forced isolation and separation from each other, it can be too easy to forget
our common connections or our long bonds of friendship and family. Or to
believe that our power, our ability to influence the world around us, is too small
or insufficient.
But this isn’t true. This year Commonwealth Day is on the same date as
International Women’s Day. This is very fitting, particularly considering the
pioneering leadership given over many decades by the Commonwealth
collectively and by our member states on pushing progress to equal
participation for women in the social, economic and political lives of our
communities and countries.
And this year has seen women across the Commonwealth rise up and lead us
all in our fight against COVID-19 and in preparing our countries and communities
to recover from the many devastating consequences of this pandemic:
- Women, despite the immensity of the issues we have faced, are rising to these challenges as leaders across our countries, our communities and our homes.
- Women are demonstrating strong leadership on the front line of the pandemic from health care to education to science, where they have led the race to create the vaccines we need to beat COVID.
I know that despite our challenges, the bonds of our Commonwealth family
are just as real, strong and vibrant as they ever were and just as strong as the
many women who have risen to meet the challenges of the pandemic. And just
as powerful.
And the year ahead is, I believe, a year of hope, opportunity and progress
for our Commonwealth family – progress on climate change as we
look to the international COP26 meeting later this year and to build on
our Commonwealth Blue Charter, which works to protect our oceans and
recognises that we will only be safe if we protect our planet and use its resources
responsibly. It is only through wise and sustainable stewardship of our world and
its bounty that we will safeguard the health of humanity.
Progress on our push across all of our member states for more inclusive
economic development and equitable trade to support the good jobs and
sustainable economic growth that must underpin our shared prosperity.
Progress as we continue to advocate on behalf of small states, who make
up such a large part of our family. And whose interests we are all committed
to representing because our vision for equality has always been based upon
everyone having a voice and a seat at the table, no matter their size.
That is why so much of our work has been focused on making sure those voices
are heard, such as through practical support like our Joint Office at the UN
providing a permanent representation for those small states who want it. Or our
Climate Finance Access Hub which is working to make sure that our small states
are able to access the funds they need to respond to the very real challenges
they face in tackling climate change. Or recent work to highlight urgent health
issues such as equal access for small and developing states to the vaccines that
we hope will enable us all to return to normal.
We are also committed to making progress in ensuring that the human rights of
all our citizens are respected and that the values of democracy and the rule of
law, that are so central to our founding charter and our values, are upheld.
And progress in our relentless drive to end domestic violence and sexual assault
through our Commonwealth Says No More campaign. We know that women
have borne the brunt of the shocking rise in domestic and gender-based violence
during this pandemic. Our Commonwealth Says No More campaign is mobilising
action to make our homes and communities the places of safety they ought to
be, free from fear of physical or psychological harm.
So while the challenges may seem insurmountable alone, I know that as a
Commonwealth family, though we may be apart, we stand together, united in
purpose. We are 2.4 billion people, across 54 countries and all of us a part of
countless communities, families and homes around the globe. And through all
of this we are one Commonwealth family.
So as we celebrate our membership with the 2.4 billion other members of our
Commonwealth family, let us this year especially commit ourselves to working
for the welfare and well-being, the common wealth of all humanity. Let us
together work for a more equal and equitable, a more hopeful future for our
Commonwealth and for our world.