Ministerial Group on Small States (MGSS)

The Ministerial Group on Small States (MGSS) meets just before CHOGM. Chaired by Mr Downer, the meeting will help Small States advance their common interests. 32 of the 54 Commonwealth members are Small States, with populations of less than 1.5 million. This includes most states in the Pacific and Caribbean. Small States are more vulnerable than larger developing countries to shocks and threats to their sovereignty, security and natural resources. Many find it difficult to access markets and assistance. They lack negotiating power.

The Commonwealth recognises these challenges. It has proved a most effective advocate for Small States and source of technical assistance. The MGSS focuses on how Small States can be helped through Commonwealth cooperation. Meetings of the MGSS have been held at the margins of CHOGMs since 1993. A Commonwealth Ministerial Mission in 1998 led to a major Commonwealth/World Bank Report on Small States. At Durban Commonwealth Leaders welcomed the report as a landmark document. In Coolum, the MGSS will review progress and identify future Commonwealth action to help Small States.

Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG)

Commonwealth leaders established the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), of which Australia is a member, in Auckland in November 1995 to give political teeth to the Commonwealth's commitment to the Harare Principles. The Harare Principles are a set of fundamental political values that Commonwealth members agree upon such as: adherence to democracy, the rule of law and human rights.

In particular the CMAG was tasked to help ensure Commonwealth members adhered to democracy, by allowing the CMAG to investigate and report on member countries in which there was a suspected unconstitutional overthrow of government. Where a CMAG investigation has confirmed an unconstitutional overthrow had occurred in a member country, the Commonwealth has taken both remedial and punitive measures. For example, when Fiji and Pakistan demonstrated they were not committed to democracy (following the unconstitutional overthrow of their governments) they were suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth).

In Durban in 1999, leaders tasked the reform-focussed High Level Review Group to review the CMAG's mandate. The HLRG's finding will be considered by leaders at Coolum. Australia will be encouraging leaders to agree on measures that strengthen the CMAG's role to enable it to deal not only with unconstitutional overthrows of member governments but also with serious or persistent violations of Commonwealth values, such as good governance and human rights. Australia and eight others (Bangladesh, Barbados, Botswana, Canada, Malaysia, Nigeria and the United Kingdom) are current members.

High Level Review Group (HLRG)

The High Level Review Group (HLRG) was established by the 1999 Durban CHOGM to review the role of the Commonwealth and advise on how best it could respond to the challenges of the new century. Australia is proud to be a member of this group that is set up to ensure the Commonwealth remains focused, dynamic and effective. The HLRG has worked hard over the last two years to make recommendations that will ensure the Commonwealth remains a relevant and potent force in the future. Its recommendations are far-reaching and will be put to leaders for decisions at the 2002 Coolum CHOGM. Other members are India, Malta, PNG, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom and Zimbabwe.

February 2002

For further information:

Contact: Terry Walls, Media Information Officer, CHOGM 2002 Task Force
Mobile: 0419 606 107
E-mail terry.walls@pmc.gov.au

Prepared by: CHOGM 2002 Task Force
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet