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The Eminent Persons Group has released a questionnaire – to be completed by 22 September – which asks how the profile, impact and networks of the 60-year-old Commonwealth can be strengthened.

Public invited to give their views on the future of the Commonwealth

17 August 2010

New expert body keen to hear ideas on how best to sharpen impact, strengthen networks and raise the profile of the association

The Eminent Persons Group, set up to help reform and renew the Commonwealth, is calling on members of the public to give their opinions on the association.

The new body has released a questionnaire – to be completed by 22 September – which asks how the profile, impact and networks of the 60-year-old Commonwealth can be strengthened.

“We are extremely keen to hear from anyone who is interested in making a contribution,” said former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Chairperson of the Group, which met for the first time on 19 and 20 July at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s headquarters in London.

As well as hearing the views of the general public, the Group is also seeking the written views of all Commonwealth civil society and professional organisations, as well as from a range of distinguished personalities.

Questionnaire

Click here to complete the general public questionnaire

The Group was established by Commonwealth Heads of Government at their summit in November 2009. At this meeting Commonwealth leaders called for the “creation of an Eminent Persons Group to undertake an examination of options for reform in order to bring the Commonwealth’s many institutions into a stronger and more effective framework of co-operation and partnership.” The Group is also tasked with looking at the format, frequency, and content of Commonwealth ministerial meetings.

The ten-person Group is scheduled to meet again in October 2010 and March 2011 before reporting to leaders at the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, taking place in Perth, Australia, in October 2011.

“This distinguished Group will set out decisive recommendations on how to strengthen the Commonwealth and fulfil its potential in the 21st century,” Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma said when he first announced the members in London last month. “The Group’s work will aim to ensure that the Commonwealth remains relevant to its times and makes the best use of its networks and partnerships to do so.”

11. Sep 22 2010 1:44PM, Deepak Behl wrote:

Commonwealth of any nation is its children. Make the children of your nation aware of the Raj Vidya (Royal Knowledge) being imparted by Praja Pita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya (centers in various countries with HQ at Mount Abu Rajasthana - India). With practise of Raj Vidya these children will tend to bring peace on earth. Believe it or leave it. Tomorrow belongs to the children of this world.

12. Sep 20 2010 3:30AM, Toabwa Anre wrote:

.I would propose that UK Comsec office branch out it office in the ACP regional leve.One regional office for the Pacific region members and similarly for other major region of the Comsec. A desk officer for each Comsec member can be establised with each office of foreign affairs per country to give national level presence and impacts of Comsec.

13. Sep 13 2010 11:49PM, KIWI wrote:

Disband the comonwealth a alliance like this could start another world war

14. Sep 4 2010 1:42PM, Deepak Sharma wrote:

Extremely relevant to contribute in saving humi nity from hunger ,poverty&terrorism

15. Sep 3 2010 12:26AM, Georg von Gross wrote:

Questionnaire / Survey bears NO marks, Logo or any sign as being PRODUCED by a Commonwealth Authority or Associated Group from within the structure. Does NOT inspire TRUST - to confine to it PERSONAL OPINIONS, IDENTITY DETAILS and so on... IF this will be CHANGED (i.e. Commonwealth Logo added minimum.. ) I / we will have the capability / opportunity to circulate it - to an Australia wide public of many, many thousands ...

16. Aug 29 2010 11:53AM, Mr.Vallabh Kaviraj wrote:

As a longstanding Indian journalist in London, I have covered a number of CHOGMs in last 35 years and I have observed that the Commonwealth is needed to be reformed and strengthened its potential because it was described as a talking shop in the last few years. The world is changing fast therefore it needs to be reformed and I am glad that the new body is starting to do just that. -Vallabh Kaviraj, alongstanding Indian poet, journalist, editor of the The AEN, GBF and The AEN News Diary.

17. Aug 24 2010 8:43AM, Syed Junaid ahmed wrote:

The idea behind this move is quite useless as if public is required to give suggestions for its improvement than what this battallion of consultants, group of eminent persons and advisors are doing in commonwealth.