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<p>Further to my answer to PQ 162458, the UK continues to work with the three pillars
of the Commonwealth – the Commonwealth Secretariat, its member states, and its people
to people networks – to deliver on commitments set out in the 2018 Commonwealth Heads
of Government meeting (CHOGM) communique. For example;</p><ul><li><p>Member states
have increased cooperation in international organisations. In Geneva, the UK hosted
a meeting of Commonwealth Permanent Representatives to discuss multilateral issues
in advance of the Human Rights Council. New Zealand has hosted a similar Commonwealth
meeting to discuss issues relating to the World Trade Organisation. In New York, it
has been agreed that Commonwealth members of the UN Security Council will regularly
brief other Commonwealth countries in Security Council business.</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>The
Prime Minister included a passage on the Commonwealth in her speech to the UN General
Assembly. She spoke explicitly as Commonwealth Chair-in-Office on behalf of the Heads
of Government of 53 Commonwealth countries – over a quarter of the UN membership –
to reaffirm their shared shared commitment to work together within a rules based international
system to address shared global challenges.</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>The UK and Ghana
convened the inaugural meeting of the Commonwealth-led Digital Finance Champions Group
in Accra on 26 September. The initiative will drive the use of secure and inclusive
digital finance, especially for vulnerable and underbanked people.</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>The
Commonwealth Standards Network launched in Geneva on 26 September. The network aims
to boost trade between Commonwealth member states by increasing the use of existing
international standards. The network will allow member states to share knowledge and
enable the creation of vital links between our economies.</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Following
the lead of Commonwealth Heads of Government, 152 countries have now endorsed the
joint statement calling on states to leave no girl behind, and provide opportunity
for at least 12 years of quality education for all girls and boys.</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Following
its launch in Bangladesh, Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria, over 1,300 women entrepreneurs
have registered with 'SheTrades Commonwealth'. The Programme aims to increase economic
growth and job creation by enabling the increased participation of women-owned businesses
in international trade.</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Guyana has become the first country
to partner with the UK funded Commonwealth Marine Economies Programme to develop a
Maritime Economy Plan. The Programme aims to support the sustainable growth and development
of 17 Commonwealth Small Island Developing States in the Caribbean and Pacific.</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Twenty
countries, over a third of the Commonwealth, have now signed up to the Commonwealth
Clean Oceans Alliance – the Blue Charter Action Group co-chaired by the UK and Vanuatu
to tackle marine plastic pollution. During her visit to Africa in September, the Prime
Minister announced that the UK would make up to an additional £5 million available
to provide technical assistance to developing countries that join the initiative.</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>The
Prime Minister also announced a Young Leaders Plastic Challenge Badge, working in
partnership with UN Environment, Scouts and Girl Guides, to help an estimated 50,000
young people in Kenya and two further African countries to become leaders in raising
awareness about the importance of reducing plastic consumption.</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>In
support of the Commonwealth Cyber Declaration, the UK has partnered with the World
Bank to deliver national cyber security capacity reviews in 11 member states. With
support from Oxford University's Global Cyber Security Capacity Centre and Australia's
Oceania Centre, we are now well placed to meet the commitment for every Commonwealth
country to voluntarily undertake reviews by CHOGM 2020.</p></li></ul>
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