Media Statement
21 June 2022
Minister Naledi Pandor leads a South African delegation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM 2022)
The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, will lead a South African delegation to the Commonwealth Heads of State and Government Meeting (CHOGM 2022) scheduled to be held on Friday, 24 June 2022 and Saturday, 25 June 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda.
The Meeting will be held under the theme “Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming”.
It will be preceded by a Pre-CHOGM Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) on Thursday, 23 June 2022 and a Senior Official Meeting (SOM) on Wednesday, 22 June 2022.
The Commonwealth Heads of Government usually meet every two years to discuss issues affecting both the Commonwealth members and countries internationally. The decisions taken at CHOGM shape and determine Commonwealth policy and priorities.
The format of CHOGM 2022 will include a Ministerial and Head of Government segment, including a one-day Retreat, where Heads of Government will nominate a new Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth in 2024 and elect a new Commonwealth Secretary-General.
A Communiqué will be adopted as an outcome of CHOGM 2022, which will reflect on the Commonwealth’s five priorities, which are: (i) governance and the rule of law; (ii) technology and innovation; (iii) youth; (iv) environment; and (v) the multilateral trading system and deepening Commonwealth trade and investment.
It is also expected that in addition to the main Communiqué, CHOGM 2022 will also adopt three standalone declarations, namely: (i) the Kigali Declaration on Childcare and Protective Reform; (ii) a Commonwealth Living Lands Charter; and (iii) a Declaration on Sustainable Urbanisation. Heads may also decide to release a Leaders’ Statement, which is a summary of the Retreat Sessions.
The Commonwealth consists of 54 members. Membership includes countries amongst the world’s largest, smallest, richest, and poorest. Nineteen (19) are from Africa and thirty-one (31) members are classified as small states. All members are expected to subscribe to the Commonwealth’s values and principles outlined in The Commonwealth Charter, which amongst others are: consensus and common action, mutual respect, inclusiveness, transparency, accountability, legitimacy and responsiveness.
Prior to CHOGM 2022 four Forums, namely the Commonwealth Business Forum; the Commonwealth People’s Forum, the Commonwealth Youth Forum and the Commonwealth Women’s Forum, will take place. The Forums will offer a platform for a wider debate on some of the key issues and challenges, in advance of discussions by leaders at CHOGM. Reports on their deliberations will be presented during the Pre-CHOGM and CHOGM meetings.
Minister Pandor arrives in Kigali on Wednesday, 22 June 2022.
Enquiries: Mr Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for DIRCO,082 884 5974
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION
OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
Pretoria
0084