The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2024 took place in Apia, Samoa from 21-26 October 2024. It was the first CHOGM to be held in a Pacific Small Island Developing State.
Transparency International New Zealand issued a media release for this event calling for an amplification of civil society’s voice in the governing process. Reproduced from the media release:
“Civil society participation is essential to the achievement and maintenance of common wealth and resilience” is the key message from Transparency International New Zealand to leaders attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa.
The meeting theme of a Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth, and its core pillars of resilience are reflected in the work being done by Transparency International chapters across the Pacific in Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji, Australia and New Zealand.
Many other civil society organisations are also contributing to common goals such as recovery, resilience and empowerment.
“We welcome Prime Minister Afioga Fiame Naomi Mataafa’s message about the aims of CHOGM 24 to strengthen pillars of resilience,” says Julie Haggie, Chief Executive of Transparency International New Zealand.
“Civil society organisations like Transparency International promote democratic resilience by advocating for and assisting with public sector accountability, and with our country’s readiness to counter corruption. In New Zealand we have recently published a report on anti-corruption.”
Across the Commonwealth, civil society organisations like Transparency International New Zealand are involved in civics education; running programmes to support political and public service integrity; and actively participating through programmes like the Open Government Partnership.
“We ask all Commonwealth leaders to acknowledge the vital function of civil society in upholding human rights, supporting democracy and the rule of law, and empowering people to live peaceful and productive lives.”
