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Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group (EPG)

The Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group (EPG) was established by Commonwealth Heads of Government at CHOGM 2009 in Trinidad and Tobago. The EPG was tasked with putting forward recommendations for reforms of the Commonwealth’s institutions to create “a stronger and more effective framework of co-operation and partnership.” The group has met periodically since 2009, and will report to Heads at CHOGM in Perth.

The eleven members of the EPG, chaired by Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (Malaysia) are representative of the diversity of the Commonwealth. They participate in their individual capacities and do not represent the views of any member government.

The members of the EPG are:

  • Dr. Emmanuel O. Akwetey (Ghana)
  • Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (Malaysia, Chairperson)
  • Ms Patricia Francis (Jamaica)
  • Dr Asma Jahangir (Pakistan)
  • Mr Samuel Kavuma (Uganda) – (Commonwealth Youth Caucus)
  • The Hon Michael Kirby (Australia)
  • Dr Graca Machel (Mozambique)
  • Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind (UK)
  • Sir Ronald Sanders (Guyana)
  • Senator Hugh Segal (Canada)
  • Sir Ieremia Tabai (Kiribati)

The UK has strongly supported the Eminent Persons Group process and we welcome their emerging recommendations of championing commonwealth values; advocating for small and developing countries by taking collective interest in issues such as debt relief and climate change, and ensuring that Commonwealth institutions are fit for purpose, focussed and working to commonwealth strengths and most importantly are connecting with the commonwealth citizens.

A strengthened Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group will protect Commonwealth values, and will also support members facing challenges to democratic development. Small and vulnerable states should feel that the Commonwealth network offers them a solid platform from which to voice their opinions and to receive timely assistance and support on issues such as climate change.

Minister for the Commonwealth Lord Howell hosted an event The Commonwealth: Network of the 21st Century on 15 July 2011 to raise awareness of Commonwealth priorities, the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) and priorities for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2011.

The meeting was attended by EPG member Sir Malcolm Rifkind MP and Adam McCarthy (Deputy High Commissioner for Australia). Sir Malcolm Rifkind set out his thinking on the current EPG recommendations and Adam McCarthy spoke about Australia’s preparations for this year’s CHOGM in Perth. Lord Howell underlined the UK government’s commitment to reinvigorating the Commonwealth and explained why the UK views the Commonwealth as the network of the future. Sir Malcolm Rifkind MP, stressed the importance of the EPG’s recommendations in making the Commonwealth more current to the people and to ensuring the organisation is seen to adhere to its stated values. 

Lord Howell: Commonwealth – the soft power network of the future (Speech to the 57th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, 26 July 2011)