பொதுநலவாய மக்கள் போரம் மாநாடு ஹிக்கடுவயில் நிறைவுபெற்றது (படங்கள் இணைப்பு)

1. The closing ceremony of the Commonwealth People’s Forum (CPF) was held Wednesday (Nov. 13) at Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka.

2. Martin Tsounkeu of the Africa Development Interchange Network presents the Final Outcome Document at the closing session of the Commonwealth People’s Forum (CPF) in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka (Nov. 13). On his right: Sir Anand Satyanand, Chair and Myn Garcia (Commonwealth Foundation).

3. Hugo Swire, Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Minister for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, UK, speaking at the Commonwealth People’s Forum in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka, Nov. 13.

4&5 Civil society members from Commonwealth countries at the closing session of the Commonwealth People’s Forum, Wednesday, (Nov. 13) at Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, 13 November 2013

Largest-ever Commonwealth People's Forum Sends Final Report to the Committee of the Whole

The Final Outcome Document of the Commonwealth People’s Forum (CPF) was unveiled at the closing session

of the Forum Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013, at the Chaaya Tranz Hotel in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka. Civil society

delegates from Commonwealth countries met at the resort on the Indian Ocean Island’s south-west coast for the

five-day deliberation to arrive at the key recommendations to be made to the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers’

meeting.

A special feature of the morning’s programme was the recitation of a poem – “Wish” by Fred D’Aguiar,

Caribbean poet, novelist and playwright who is a professor of English at Virginia Tech University.

Sir Anand Satyanand, Chair of the Commonwealth Foundation who presided over the final session, declared

that this People’s Forum was the largest exercise that the Foundation had been involved in recent times.

The report states that the experiences and aspirations of the peoples of the Commonwealth are articulated in the

document “Commonwealth Perspective: Ideas for a New Development Agenda.”

One of the recommendations calls for the Heads of Government of the commonwealth to declare a stand-alone

goal of gender equality; of empowering girls and women to achieve their full potential, prevent and eliminate

violence against women and integrate women’s empowerment into all relevant goals including specific concerns

such as economic, political and social environment including sexual and reproductive health. The full report is

expected to be publicly available later today.

Hugo Swire, British Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Minister for Sri Lanka and the

Maldives, delivering the closing address, said that governments can’t work alone but had to account to the

private sector and the civil society, and in doing so be accountable to systems. He also emphasized the need for

visibility for civil society in the post-2015 agenda and called attention to the values that bind the Commonwealth

together.

At the head table were, (L-R) Jehan Perera (National Peace Council), Kemberly Gittens (Caribbean Policy

Development Centre), Nana Afadzinu (West Africa Civil Society Institute), Martin Tsounkue (Africa Development

Intercharge Network), Sir Anand Satyanand, Chair, (Commonwealth Foundation), Myn Garcia (Commonwealth

Foundation), Harsha Kumara Navaratne (Sewalanka Foundation) and Professor P. Abey (Academic for Citizen).

The Director of the Commonwealth Foundation Vijay Krishnarayan explained that CPF 2013 was a collaborative

effort between the Commonwealth Foundation, Sri Lanka civil society, civil society organizations from across the

commonwealth and the Government of Sri Lanka. He said that it was made possible by the efforts of the subcommittee

under the stewardship of Dr. L.D. Chandradasa. Krishnarayan warmly acknowledged Dr.

Chandradasa’s efforts and support.

Sir Anand Satyanand together with Vijay Krishnarayan of the Commonwealth Foundation will present the

Commonwealth People’s Forum Report to the foreign ministers gathered in Colombo, Thursday. END.