Commonwealth People's Forum
Why have a Commonwealth People's Forum?
The aims of the CPF are:
- To raise the visibility of civil society organisations in the Commonwealth;
- To create partnerships in the quest for development and democracy; strengthen links between Commonwealth civil society organisations;
- To create opportunities for dialogue between civil society and government ministers on priority issues in the Commonwealth; and
- To provide opportunities for that dialogue to be raised and addressed at the CHOGM.
What happens in the run up to the Commonwealth People's Forum?
An initial visit will begin the planning process. This will entail meeting with government and civil society as well as members of the press in the host country.
The Commonwealth Foundation will support and facilitate a pan Commonwealth process of civil society dialogue and interaction, prior to the CPF drawing on national, regional and international processes that will culminate with the Committee of the Whole, which takes place in September/October 2007. The outcomes of the Committee of the Whole will feed into the CHOGM communiqué.
The CPF takes place in the week preceding the CHOGM. A steering committee will be established to provide oversight for the CPF and it will comprise of leaders from the Ugandan government and civil society . The steering committee will meet regularly and maintain good links between the Foundation and the host government during the planning stage. This will enable good lines of communications with the CHOGM team and increase the access to governments by civil society.
Each CPF has a theme which is linked directly to the theme of the CHOGM. When the theme has been decided, usually 12 months in advance, a series of sub themes will be developed and it is around these that the civil society workshops and discussions will take place. The outcomes of these workshops will be fed into reports, which will then feed into the final communiqué, which will be presented to Heads of Government.
What happens at the Commonwealth People's Forum?
Click on the document at the base of this page to find out more!
Why should you be interested in the Commonwealth People's Forum?
The CPF is a unique event that is coming to Uganda in 2007. It will provide both Ugandan and pan-Commonwealth civil society an opportunity to discuss issues affecting their work and their countries. Civil society will then have an opportunity to feed their concerns to their governments during the CHOGM, which will also be held in Uganda later in the same week. A successful CPF, heralds a successful CHOGM. It is an opportunity for dialogue within civil society and with governments.
The CPF is always extremely well attended. In 2005 over 200 civil society organisations attended and over 400 civil society delegates of which 300 participants from civil society and Commonwealth Associations funded themselves. The last CPF was also the first time that a head of state engaged formally with civil society at a CPF, when President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda addressed a special session.
