Full transcript
0:00Home to 2.5 billion people, the
0:02Commonwealth is a voluntary association
0:05of 56 independent and equal countries
0:08working together for prosperity,
0:10democracy, and peace. The Commonwealth
0:13is one of the world's oldest political
0:15associations with a legacy that reaches
0:18back over 70 years.
0:20Let's explore the history of the
0:22Commonwealth from then until now.
0:26The modern Commonwealth was born in 1949
0:29when leaders of Australia, Canada,
0:32India, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri
0:35Lanka, and the United Kingdom set down
0:38the terms of their voluntary association
0:40as free and equal members.
0:43Based in Marlborough House, London, the
0:46Commonwealth Secretariat was established
0:49in 1965 to promote shared values across
0:52member countries like development,
0:55democracy, and peace.
0:58At the first Commonwealth Heads of
0:59Government Meeting in 1971,
1:02leaders agreed to shared values which
1:04have been renewed and reaffirmed over
1:06the years.
1:09Countries including Namibia, Cameroon,
1:11and Mozambique, which were never part of
1:14the British Empire, joined the
1:16Commonwealth.
1:19South Africa returned to the
1:20Commonwealth under the leadership of
1:22Nelson Mandela after the country had
1:24left in 1961
1:26following opposition from member states
1:28to its apartheid policies.
1:32In 2013, Her Late Majesty Queen
1:35Elizabeth II signed the Commonwealth
1:37Charter into being.
1:39The Charter brings together the values
1:41and aspirations which unite the
1:43Commonwealth including democracy, human
1:46rights, and the rule of law.
1:49Togo and Gabon are the latest countries
1:52to join the Commonwealth in 2022.
1:59From advanced economies and small states
2:02to developing countries, today the
2:04Commonwealth continues to support member
2:06governments to secure a better future
2:08for our young people and improve the
2:10lives of all Commonwealth citizens.
2:14Learn more about the Commonwealth at the
2:16commonwealth.org.