More than 4,000 delegates and leaders from 56 Commonwealth countries, representing 2.7 billion people, will gather in Apia, this week for the bi-annual Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
Samoa is the first Small Island Developing State from the Blue Pacific to host CHOGM.
Tuvalu’s Prime Minister Feleti Teo and Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland are among the high-level delegates who have arrived already.
This year’s CHOGM marks some other important milestones.
His Majesty King Charles III will, for the first time, attend CHOGM as Head of the Commonwealth. The King will be accompanied by Her Majesty Queen Camilla. Her Majesty will participate in an event that will advocate for the health and wellbeing of girls and women across the Commonwealth.
Heads of Government will deliberate on a crucial Ocean Declaration that aims to accelerate initiatives for a healthy, sustainable and resilient ocean.
The meeting will elect a successor to the current Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, whose term will end on 31 March 2025.
One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth CHOGM Samoa 2024 aims to strengthen resilient democratic institutions that uphold human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, a resilient environment to combat climate change, resilient economies that support recovery and prosperity, and resilient societies that empower people, especially women and youth, for a peaceful and productive life.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland underscored the importance of the meeting being held in Apia.
“CHOGM Samoa 2024 comes at a defining moment in our history, when the effects of climate change are no longer distant threats,” she said.
“They are here at our doorstep, disrupting lives and livelihoods with intensifying frequency and severity, especially in the Pacific, where sea levels in some countries are rising four times faster than the global average.
“The Commonwealth has always stood shoulder to shoulder with the Pacific and as we approach this historic CHOGM, we are reminded of the Commonwealth’s boundless potential as a force for good, one which calls for our highest ambition and collective action. I am confident that the decisions our leaders will make together at this CHOGM will have a profound and durable impact on the wellbeing of our people and the planet.”
Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa said the nation was looking forward to welcoming the Commonwealth family to Samoa.
“We’re very much looking forward to our country being exposed to what the Commonwealth is through the delegations that will be attending.
“The Commonwealth has always championed and advocated for the interests of small states. The wonderful thing, about the Commonwealth is the shared experiences that we have. This all adds to building the resilience that underpins the theme of the meeting because everyone is impacted by climate change, and we see value in how other countries are adapting, mitigating and responding to the climate crisis.”
In keeping with the spirit of cooperation among member states, participants will have the opportunity to share knowledge and good practices, as well as showcase progress made on key pieces of work and commitments adopted at the last 2022 CHOGM in Kigali, Rwanda.
Over the course of CHOGM Samoa 2024, heads and their representatives will meet in executive sessions and a leaders’ retreat to discuss shared priorities that will shape the future work programmes of the organisation.
There will also be an opening ceremony to set the stage for the event, celebrating the richness of the culture of Samoa and acknowledging other cultures and people of the Blue Pacific. CHOGM Samoa 2024 will include ministerial and bilateral meetings, the Commonwealth Youth, People, Business and Women’s Forums, 35 side events, and launches of publications and initiatives.
The meeting will conclude on Saturday, 26 October, with a final communiqué, which will capture the outcomes of Heads of Government’s deliberations.
