VIDEO: CHOGM 2013 commenced a short while ago
November 15, 2013 09:01 am
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2013 commenced today (November 15) at 10.15am at the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa theatre with 53 countries set to participate in the summit.
The
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is held every two years to
enable leaders of Commonwealth countries to come together to discuss global and
Commonwealth issues, and to decide on collective policies and initiatives.
This
year, CHOGM is taking place in Sri Lanka, the first time an Asian country is
hosting the summit in 24 years.
Every
CHOGM is jointly organized by the host country and the Commonwealth
Secretariat. These biennial meetings serve as the principal policy and
decision-making forum to guide the strategic direction of the association.
Commonwealth
leaders have been coming together for discussions since 1949, but the title
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting was adopted during a session in
Singapore in 1971. This specific classification was used to depict the
gathering of both presidents and prime ministers in the event.
One
unique aspect of the meeting is that the formal opening ceremony and the formal
Executive Session are followed by a where leaders meet privately for
discussions. With an informal atmosphere, this session allows heads of state to
freely and frankly exchange their views on important issues and come to a consensus.
Previous
CHOGMs have focused on a range of global issues, including international peace
and security, democracy, climate change, multilateral trade issues, good
governance, sustainable development, small states, debt management, education,
environment, gender equality, health, human rights, information and
communication technology, and youth affairs.
The theme for CHOGM 2013 is “Growth with Equity; Inclusive
Development.”
