London 14 October 2024 – The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) will actively engage in the 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), scheduled for October 2024 in Apia, Samoa. The theme for CHOGM 2024 is “Resilient and Inclusive Commonwealth: Forging a Sustainable Future”, a reflection of the shared need to tackle critical issues such as climate change, human rights, and equitable development.

Why Participation at CHOGM 2024 Matters

CHOGM serves as an opportunity for CHRI to push forward key human rights concerns, including freedom of expression, access to justice, and eradicating modern-day slavery. Our engagement at CHOGM 2024 allows us to highlight pressing issues related to shrinking civic space, media freedom, and rights of marginalised communities, ensuring that human rights remain at the forefront of the Commonwealth’s agenda.

In the past, CHRI has used CHOGM to bring global attention to these areas, influencing policy shifts and encouraging Commonwealth governments to take concrete steps toward fulfilling their human rights obligations. CHRI expects CHOGM 2024 to lead to renewed commitments toward strengthening human rights frameworks, especially in light of previous commitments made at CHOGM 2022 and before.

Key Areas of Engagement

At CHOGM 2024, CHRI will contribute to the following events:

• Women’s Forum (21 October): CHRI will moderate a critical discussion on gender equality to discuss and identify effective initiatives, strategies, and programmes to prevent, reduce and ultimately end VAWG. ​​
• Commonwealth People’s Forum (CPF) (22 October): CHRI will contribute to a session on Freedom of Expression within the CPF formal agenda.
• Commonwealth People’s Forum (CPF) (22 October): CHRI will participate in the session on - ‘Trade Unions and a Resilient, Rights, and Justice-based Commonwealth’ within the CPF formal agenda.
• Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF): CHRI is participating in the Roundtable on ‘Global Standards; Collaboration and Partnerships.’
• CHOGM Side Event (23 October): ‘Protecting Freedom of Speech and Expression in the Commonwealth.’ CHRI is leading this side event in partnership with the Commonwealth Journalists Association, International Commission of Jurists, Commonwealth Lawyers Association, the High-Level Legal Panel on Freedom of Expression, and the Institute for Commonwealth Studies, with support from the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Government of Canada and the Samoa Ombuds Office/NHRI. We will launch our report on Freedom of Expression and Media Freedoms in the Commonwealth, developed in collaboration with these organisations.
• CHOGM Side Event (23 October): ‘On the Move and at Risk: climate change, human trafficking and the right to safe and healthy working environments in the Commonwealth.’ CHRI will co-lead this side event in collaboration with CTUG, and IOSH, to discuss workers' occupational health and safety exploring how climate change heightens vulnerabilities to trafficking and exploitation, impacting societal resilience.
• CHOGM Side Event (21 October): ‘Gender Based Violence - A joined up approach.’ CHRI will contribute to a session led by the Commonwealth Businesswomen’s Network on the economic and social impacts of GBV, advocating for the ratification of key international conventions.

• CPF Side Event (22 October):’Respecting and revitalising the Commonwealth’s commitment to civil society.’ CHRI will contribute to this event which will explore, and debate recommendations contained in the IFCO Submission to the Committee of the Whole, focusing on strengthening civil society’s role and influence in Commonwealth affairs.

Engagement with Foreign Ministers

• CHRI will participate in the Foreign Ministers Round Table to ensure that human rights remain a priority in Commonwealth governance.

CHRI’s participation will focus on advocating for law reforms on freedom of expression and stronger legal protections for journalists, reinforcing the importance of civil society engagement in governance processes and advocating for measure to tackle the root causes of trafficking and exploitation.

Impact We Aim to Achieve

By participating in CHOGM 2024, CHRI aims to:

• Encourage Commonwealth leaders to make actionable commitments on human rights, with a particular focus on freedom of expression, strengthening civic space and tackling modern slavery and human trafficking.
• Raise awareness about critical human rights issues across the Commonwealth, fostering a more informed and engaged public.
• Build partnerships that strengthen human rights across the Commonwealth through collective action and collaborations.

Members of CHRI delegation are: 

• Alison Duxbury, former Dean of Law, University of Melbourne, and former Chair of the International Board, CHRI (Australia)
• Cherisse Francis, Professor St Mary’s University, and CHRI Board Member (Barbados/UK)
• Winnie Mutevu, HAART Kenya, Commonwealth 8.7 Network (Kenya)
• Sneh Aurora, Director, CHRI (UK/Canada)
• Ugonna Ukaigwe, Programme Manager, CHRI (UK/Nigeria)

“CHOGM offers an essential platform to advocate for a human rights-centred Commonwealth. This year’s CHOGM in the Pacific Island nation of Samoa, provides a unique opportunity to engage with Commonwealth leaders, civil society, and international stakeholders in a setting renowned for its rich cultural heritage and commitment to environmental sustainability. We look forward to contributing to the discussions that will shape the democratic rights and freedoms of the 2.5 billion citizens across 56 member countries,” said Sneh Aurora, Director, CHRI UK.

For more information, please contact:

Sneh Aurora,

saurora@humanrightsinitiative.org