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Education is not just about formal education; it is about

life-long learning, including in very particular situations. For

example, it includes programmes that aim to bring conflicting

parties together in peacebuilding activities or in political educa-

tion programmes for post conflict-situations. As such, education

is an instrument for understanding both differences and the

potential for fault lines to descend into conflict and violence.

The Commonwealth has a well-established approach to

tackling conflict and political differences, involving multi-

lateral consultations and extensive dialogues, even when the

positions held by different parties seem distant. In a world

in which different people, despite sharing a common inter-

est in peace, security and justice, find themselves divided by

mutual incomprehension and scepticism – and sometimes

even suspicion – the affirmation of the importance of multi-

lateralism, with mutual respect, can help to create a more

positive climate for tolerance, support and collaboration. The

Commonwealth attaches great importance to the constructive

use of a dialogue-based approach to dealing with issues of

group-based conflict in the world today.

Strategy and practical steps

The Commonwealth’s work on respect and understand-

ing did not end with the publication of the CPP report. The

Secretariat has adopted a three-pronged strategy to propa-

gate CPP. Firstly, the CPP messages are being disseminated

through international fora, the Commonwealth family and

broader media networks. Secondly, work is underway to

understand the anatomy of conflict and local peacebuilding

initiatives in countries of the Commonwealth. This baseline

work will be used to devise strategies of engagement that

are suitable within the local and national context. Thirdly,

the CPP approach has been further clarified by undertaking

comparative analysis with other contemporary approaches.

This includes comparisons with the cultural approach that

emphasizes ‘civilizational conflict’ and the economic approach

that places focus on ‘poverty’ as the primary source of conflicts.

The Commonwealth’s ongoing engagement with various

multilateral and academic institutions aims to raise awareness

of conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and religious tolerance

and diversity.

The Commonwealth Secretariat was invited to deliver the

keynote address at the South American Business Forum that

was held in Buenos Aires in 2011. A presentation on ‘Living

in exponential times’ focused on highlighting the importance

of wisdom, democracy, diversity and dialogue.

In 2012, the Secretariat participated in the British Council’s

Global Citizenship Forum as one of 50 selected experts,

analysts, academics and civil society activists from across the

world. Diverse viewpoints and perspectives were shared by

the participants and a strong case on defining ‘global citizen-

ship’ from the values perspective was made by the Secretariat

which was adopted by the forum.

The Secretary-General chaired a three-day dialogue on

‘Multiculturalism and religion in foreign policy’ organized by

the Ditchley Foundation, Oxford in April 2012. This seminar

was attended by 37 selected policymakers, diplomats and

academics from different countries, ethnicities and religious

predispositions. They exchanged thoughts and ideas on

this complex issue. The outcomes of the meeting have been

disseminated to academia and senior policymakers.

In 2013, the Commonwealth Roundtable on Reconciliation

brought together expert practitioners, state representatives,

national human rights institutions and civil society organi-

zations to present a rich mosaic of how member states have

sought to realize reconciliation and other post-conflict needs

across the Commonwealth.

In preparation for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in

Glasgow, the Commonwealth Secretariat together with

the British Council and the BBC launched Commonwealth

Class to promote understanding of the Commonwealth,

its goals and values among schoolchildren, linking

Commonwealth themes of democracy, development and

diversity. The initiative delivered 30 knowledge products

and capacity building programmes reaching 88,091 schools

across the Commonwealth.

Most recently, in 2015, the Secretary-General presented

the Commonwealth’s work on respect and understanding

to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organization Executive Board.

The Commonwealth also continues to engage at the national

level in all its regions. In Asia, a preliminary report on the

types and sources of conflicts in Pakistan and ongoing conflict

resolution and peacebuilding initiatives has been completed.

The Commonwealth Secretariat is also in dialogue with the

Pakistan Chapter of ‘Charter of Compassion’ to develop pilot

projects to promote common messages. Initial discussions are

also ongoing with consultant(s) to develop a feasibility study

for establishing a Commonwealth institute for dialogue and

democracy in Pakistan.

In the Caribbean, an exploratory mission coordinated by

the Belize High Commission in London brought youth and

media as two plausible entry points for the Commonwealth

Respect and Understanding work. A number of local organ-

izations and two United Nations agencies (the United

Nations Children’s Fund and the International Labour

Organization) were interested to collaborate in impart-

ing dialogue skills as a way of conflict resolution, creating

opportunities for enterprise development through training

young people, and using sport as a medium to promote

peace and development.

In Africa, an exploratory study has been commissioned to

carry out a situational analysis of South Africa. The study will

identify the types of conflicts; their history, evolution and

resolution; sources of ongoing conflicts; existing local initia-

tives, and mechanisms of conflict resolution. Once completed,

the study will be shared with stakeholders in a roundtable

conference and entry points and institutions for further

Commonwealth assistance will be identified.

Globally, respect for diversity has been firmly embedded

in one of the three goals of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s

Strategic Plan 2013/14-2016/17. In 2013, the Commonwealth

Roundtable on Reconciliation brought focus to this work.

The report of this high-level roundtable was shared with

Commonwealth member governments, national human

rights institutions and key stakeholders in the United Nations

Human Rights System to help advance respect and under-

standing of values.

gree

iffer