CHOGM Outputs

The CHOGM will produce three documents:

Report on Functional Cooperation - will set out the Commonwealth's work programme in development, for example debt relief, good governance, education, health, gender and youth affairs. We expect this year's report will be released by Saturday 2 March;

Coolum Declaration - will be a declaration by leaders on the theme of CHOGM 2002 (Commonwealth in the 21st Century: Continuity and Renewal) including a commitment to take action on objectives agreed at the Retreat. We expect it will recommend a number of strategic reforms to strengthen the Commonwealth's political and economic roles. This year's report will be released on Monday 4 March; and

Communique - will allow Heads of Government to pronounce on specific issues on which they have held substantive discussion or proposed specific action. We expect this years will include statements on the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) and High Level Review Group (HLRG) reports, as well as key political issues of concern to the Commonwealth such as Cyprus, terrorism and HIV/AIDS. This year's report will be released on Tuesday 5 March.

CHOGM Participation

The success of CHOGM depends on good attendance levels by leaders and their active participation in both the informal and formal aspects of the meeting.

Where leaders have indicated they are unable to attend, we have been advised high-level delegations will come in their place.

Around 1,500 delegates in total are expected to attend CHOGM 20021 (comprising 52 Commonwealth countries), along with an estimated 800 accredited representatives of non-government organisations and 1,000 accredited media from across the Commonwealth.

Details of participation by individual Heads of Government will be made by them.

January 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