Commonwealth Yearbook

Book excerpt: The Commonwealth Yearbook is the flagship annual publication of the Commonwealth Secretariat, with this special anniversary edition celebrating the Secretariat's 50th year. Published annually, the Yearbook is the essential reference guide to the countries, organisations, activities and values of the modern Commonwealth. This special 2015 anniversary edition has been fully updated to include: * Strategic directions of the association as it prepares for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and Commonwealth People's Forum 2015 in Malta * Programmes and partnerships adding global value in the areas of politics (democracy and rights, rule of law, gender equality, youth empowerment); governance and natural resources; health and education; economics and trade; and resilience in small and vulnerable states * Moments of Commonwealth history recorded by historians and Secretariat insiders of the time * A guide to the essential Commonwealth communiques and declarations including those from the 2013 Heads of Government meeting in Sri Lanka and Commonwealth Charter * Comprehensive profiles of 53 member countries, including overseas territories * An extensive statistics and reference section, and the official directory of Commonwealth professional, cultural and civil society development agencies.