Title: Commonwealth @ 60: Serving a New Generation

Source/Sponsoring Agency: Commonwealth Secretariat

URL: http://www.thecommonwealth.org/

Date Checked: 10/22/2009      Status: Active

Date Annotated: 10/21/2009

Topics: Foreign Law; International Law

Other keywords: British Commonwealth

Contents: The Commonwealth, dating from the 1870s, is a voluntary association of 53 countries that span the globe. These countries were once colonies of the British Empire. In 1867, Canada became the first to change its status to a “Dominion”, which implied equality with Britain. Other major colonies followed suit over the years with increasing recognition from Britain. In 1949, the Modern Commonwealth began when India became a republic and the London Declaration formally allowed republics to maintain membership while acknowledging King George VI as Head of the Commonwealth. Today’s member states are found in Africa, the Caribbean, the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific. The Commonwealth “believes that the best democracies are achieved through partnerships” and that member states are united by “democracy, freedom, peace, the rule of law and opportunity for all.” The website provides a plethora of information about the Commonwealth, its history, and its member states. Consult the Who We Are tab for extensive background on the Commonwealth, its organization, mission and function. The timeline provides a concise review of the historical events and developments that have led to the existence of today’s Commonwealth. Also, each member state is profiled, and users can gain key facts for each country, as well as geographic, political, economic, and societal information. Other resources available include Commonwealth documents, communiqués, speeches, and declarations. For anyone researching the Commonwealth, the site is a bonanza.

Author of Annotation: M. Morrison