THE Nadi Declaration renews core Commonwealth principles to strengthen the rule of law, human rights, and governance across 56 member countries.
Signed today in the Fijian resort town of Nadi, the declaration updates longstanding commitments to uphold the rule of law and human rights amidst global turmoil.
All member nations commit to advancing citizen participation and inclusion as foundational goals.
“These efforts build on constitutional and legislative frameworks already in place,” said Luis Franceschi, Assistant Secretary General for the Commonwealth.
“This renewal reflects a collective push to maintain trust and governance integrity within the Commonwealth family structure.”
Elizabeth Macharia, CLMM Deputy Conference Secretary and acting head of the Rule of Law Section, noted a new explicit focus on recognising and supporting the rights of persons with disabilities.
“The declaration commits to purposeful actions ensuring disability rights progress across member states.
“The Commonwealth’s consensus-driven, family-like approach means these commitments are collaborative rather than legally binding.”
She said this shift signalled an evolving inclusiveness agenda aimed at more effective policy engagement with disability communities.
The discussion included legal and civil registration reforms, exemplified by the registration of a 73-year-old woman for the first time in the state.
This case highlights ongoing efforts to ensure access to legal identity for all citizens, a fundamental right recognised in the Declaration.
The CLMM Chair and Fiji’s Minister for Justice and Acting Attorney General, Siromi Turaga, shared challenges across countries, underscoring the value of mutual learning within the Commonwealth framework.
“The Secretariat plans to distribute copies of the Declaration to deepen understanding and support implementation.”