Regional
Commonwealth Day: Celebrating global partnerships
The day,
joining together with the 53 other members of the Commonwealth, Rwanda is
celebrating Commonwealth Day. This annual observation is a chance to come
together to recognise the friendship and partnerships between a family of
nations that spans across the globe.
The
theme of Commonwealth Day, traditionally aligned to the next Commonwealth Heads
of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is ‘Delivering a Common Future’. This message
remains particularly resonant given what the world has been through in the past
two years as Covid-19 has taken us backward in so many areas.
An
increased number of young people around the world do not have access to quality
education and are struggling to find decent jobs; gender inequalities have
further deepened; and disparities still exist in access to technology. In
addition, our planet is standing at the precipice of a climate crisis and the
geopolitical landscape becomes ever more fraught.
The
Covid-19 pandemic has also highlighted, for better or for worse, the
interconnectedness and interdependence of the international community. It is
clear that cooperation and solidarity between countries are needed more than
ever.
As
the world gears up towards “building back better” from the global health
crisis, Rwanda and our fellow member countries face both shared goals and
shared challenges. In this context, the Commonwealth that is home to about 30%
of the world’s population, is a relevant platform to explore how countries can
work together towards a brighter common future.
In
just over three months and after two consecutive postponements due to the
global pandemic, Kigali will host CHOGM. This will constitute a historic moment
for both Rwanda and the organisation. For the first time, CHOGM will been held
in a country with no history of British colonial rule. This reflects the
Commonwealth’s forward-facing agenda, oriented towards broader partnerships and
collaboration in pursuit of common goals.
Through
the different elements of CHOGM, representatives of youth, women, civil society,
and business actors will meet with leaders to discuss current issues in the
political, economic, social, and environmental spheres, and propose tangible
actions to address them. CHOGM will also serve as a space for exchange and
learning, contributing to strengthening the bonds within the Commonwealth.
Over
the past decade, Rwanda has become one of the premium destinations for tourism
as well as major events and conferences, welcoming visitors from around the
world. This June, we will have the opportunity to share Rwanda’s journey to
transformation over the last 28 years, and showcase to visiting delegations our
culture and hospitality as well as ongoing efforts to accelerate economic
recovery.
On
this Commonwealth Day, we come together to celebrate the 2.4 billion people who
make up our community and reaffirm Rwanda’s commitment as an active voice in
our global family of nations, especially during the two years of our
Chair-in-Office.
We
look forward to June as we prepare to host our brothers and sisters from the
Commonwealth for a safe, seamless and memorable CHOGM.
Source:
www.newtimes.co.rw