Press Release

13 June 2012

Deputy Minister Marius Fransman visits the United Kingdom for the Commonwealth Ministerial Task Force

International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Marius Fransman will undertake a working visit to London, the United Kingdom, to participate in a meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Task Force scheduled for 14-15 June 2012.

The Ministerial Task Force was established in October 2011 following the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth, Australia, and comprises the following Commonwealth Member States:

·         Australia and Solomon Island (Pacific Regions;

·         Barbados, Canada and Belize (Caribbean and Americas);

·         India and Malaysia (Asian Region);

·         Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles and South Africa (African Region); and

·         United Kingdom (European Region).

The Ministerial Task Force is mandated to consider the proposed Commonwealth Charter and the outstanding recommendations proposed by the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group (EPG)  related to human rights, women’s empowerment, youth development, health, climate change, reform of international financial institutions, and reviewing the work of the Commonwealth Secretariat, amongst others, for further advice.

The 11-member Eminent Persons Group was established by the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in Trinidad and Tobago in 2009.  The Group was tasked with developing options for reform to sharpen the impact, strengthen networks and raise the profile of the Commonwealth. The final recommendations of the EPG was presented to Heads of Government at CHOGM in October 2011.

The recommendations of the Commonwealth Ministerial Task Force will be presented at a Meeting of Commonwealth Foreign Ministers scheduled for 29 September 2012 on the margins of the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

For further information please contact Mr Clayson Monyela spokesperson for DIRCO on 082 884 5974

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

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