The People's Forum 2024

Led by Transparency International

The values of transparent and accountable governance are increasingly at risk in the Pacific. Concerns around media freedom and freedom of expression intensified during the Covid-19 pandemic and now affect critical areas like elections and the current discourse on geopolitics. This roundtable will bring together Pacific voices to explore the importance of freedom in good governance. Participants are invited to share their perspectives and expectations for free expression and collaborate to develop strategies to reinforce democratic resilience and uphold the values of an inclusive and transparent Pacific.

Led by Commonwealth Association for the Ageing (CommonAge)

Dementia affects millions across the Commonwealth, yet it remains under-recognised and under-resourced. Despite the WHO’s 2017 Global Dementia Action Plan urging all states to develop National Dementia Plans (NDPs), many countries have yet to act. With dementia cases projected to triple by 2050, collaborative solutions for increasing care are urgently needed. This session will introduce CommonAge’s ‘Dementia in the Commonwealth’ report, a resource to assist Member States in creating NDPs that address care, diagnosis, and treatment gaps. Attendees will be invited to join a discussion on strategies for making dementia a public health priority.

Led by Commonwealth Trade Union Group

The Commonwealth Trade Union Group, which represents 70 million members in 46 Member States, is set to unveil its 2024 report on Trade Union and Worker Rights. The report examines the role of union rights in upholding democracy and protecting freedom of expression, association, and assembly. In this event, Pacific and international trade unionists will argue for the importance of trade union rights for creating a freer and fairer Commonwealth. Participants are invited to share their perspectives and suggest actionable strategies for advancing health and climate justice through union rights.

Led by Institute of Commonwealth Studies

Across the Commonwealth, civil society is calling for criminal law reforms to prioritise human rights and uphold freedom of expression. In response, the Institute of Commonwealth Studies will lead a session on implementing a human rights-based approach to criminal law reform, introducing essential resources such as the ‘8 March Principles’ and the new ‘Practitioners’ Guide’ as practical tools for advocates and legal practitioners. This event will explore what modern, rights-centred criminal law looks like across the Commonwealth, with a particular focus on decriminalising freedom of expression. This session invites attendees to engage, share perspectives, and build cross-regional partnerships, working together to strengthen justice systems that reflect our shared commitment to human rights.

Led by Independent Forum of Commonwealth Organisations (IFCO)

As global civic society space shrinks, the Commonwealth, with its unique emphasis on civil society, has a vital role to play. With the first CHOGM in the Pacific and a new Secretary-General on the horizon, this session offers a chance to reset and strengthen Commonwealth civil society’s relationship with its intergovernmental institutions and governments, building on the regional network of civil society in PIANGO and SUNGO. The session will examine key recommendations from the Independent Forum of Commonwealth Organisations’ (IFCO) submission to the Committee of the Whole. Participants are invited to engage in collaborative discussions on enhancing civil society access and influence, fostering a shared culture of engagement, and building resilient regional networks across the Commonwealth.