The
Commonwealth is an international organisation
through which countries with diverse social,
political, and economic backgrounds co-operate
within a framework of common values and
goals, outlined in the Singapore Declaration.
These include the promotion of democracy,
human rights, good governance, the rule
of law, individual liberty, egalitarianism,
free trade, multilateralism, and world
peace.
The
Commonwealth of Nations, usually known
as the Commonwealth and sometimes as the
British Commonwealth, is a voluntary association
of 53 independent sovereign states, most
of which are former British colonies Queen
Elizabeth II is the Head of the Commonwealth,
recognised by each state, and as such
is the symbol of the free association
of the organisation's members. This position,
however, does not imply political power
over Commonwealth member states. |