Lords debates Commonwealth
18 October 2013
Members of the Lords, including a council member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, a former chair of the Royal Commonwealth Society, and the chair of the Commonwealth Press Union Media Trust debated the future of the Commonwealth on 17 October, ahead of next month's Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Sri Lanka.
The debate centred on the role of the Commonwealth and the efforts needed to strengthen and reform the organisation to ensure it remains relevant and influential on the international stage.
Members highlighted the fact that the Commonwealth includes some of the world's fastest growing economies and has witnessed great improvements in communication as the digital revolution spreads - but stressed the need to consolidate this progress.
Human rights violations in some Commonwealth countries were also discussed. Members raised concerns that the credibility of the organisation as a whole is threatened by such violations and called for more to be done to promote, secure and protect human rights across the Commonwealth.