Partnership and Action: A message to Heads of Government from Commonwealth Civil Society
Over three thousand civil society activists and experts from right across the Commonwealth participated in our online consultation.
Hundreds more contributed through our in-person and online regional dialogues in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe and the Pacific, including a dedicated conversation on the creative economy.
We used the conversations with civil society to develop eight recommendations that we presented to Commonwealth Governments at CHOGM 2026 in Antigua and Barbuda:
To the Commonwealth:
- Genuine Commonwealth-wide commitment to protect human rights, civic space and freedom of expression
- Consistent, credible civil society involvement and influence in Commonwealth decision-making
- Real, measurable action on climate change, environmental protection and climate justice, including delivery of climate finance to Small Island and Climate–Vulnerable States
- Commonwealth-wide action and partnerships to build and sustain resilient, accessible and equitable health systems
To Governments:
- New and better laws and stronger institutions to protect civic space and free expression online and offline
- Greater public scrutiny of legislation and meaningful public participation in decision-making
- Long-term, capital investment in people, communities and resilient public services
- Accelerate a just and accountable transition to net zero, while protecting communities, livelihoods and ecosystems
Read the document summarising the results of this extensive consultation with Commonwealth civil society.
