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HISTORY OF CHOGM

The 1960s saw an overhaul of the Commonwealth. The swift expansion of the Commonwealth after decolonisation saw the newly independent countries demand the creation of the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the United Kingdom, in response, successfully founding the Commonwealth Foundation. This decentralisation of power demanded a reformulation of the meetings. Instead of the meetings always being held in London, they would rotate across the membership, subject to countries’ ability to host the meetings: beginning with Singapore in 1971. They were also renamed the ‘Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings’ to reflect the growing diversity of the constitutional structures in the Commonwealth.

SINCE THE CFC FORMATION, THE CFC HAS BEEN PIVOTAL, HELPING TO ORGANISE COMMONWEALTH FASHION ACTIVITIES FOR CHOGM AND IN THE LEAD UP TO CHOGM.

The potential of CHOGM, and the coming together of 56 nations, delegations, business leaders and innovators, offers the global fashion sector a space to tackle some of the industries most complex and challenging issues. The CFC wants to see governments and industry players’ working together multilaterally for greater impact.

The Secretary-General said: “At this historic CHOGM, the first to be held in Africa for over a decade, we look forward to Commonwealth leaders coming together to take practical action on the critical issues we all face. “Our meetings in Rwanda will give us a real opportunity to focus on our post COVID recovery, but we also know that the pandemic has not reduced the urgency with which global challenges such as climate change, the global economy, trade and sustainable development need to be dealt with decisively through multilateral cooperation and mutual support.”

"The Commonwealth has demonstrable experience in capacity building and technical cooperation, with a particular focus on small states.”

– Trinidad and Tobago’s Foreign Minister Senator
Dennis Moses

The global fashion sector doesn’t have a global fashion body. The CFC believes that CHOGM and the CFC’s aim, which is to turn the CFC into an intergovernmental organisation, would enable governments and industry players to take practical action on crucial issues within the global fashion sector.

President Kagame of the Public of Rwanda said: “CHOGM Rwanda 2021 will be an exceptional occasion to deliberate together on the enormous technological, ecological, and economic challenges and opportunities facing the Commonwealth, particularly our young people, and which are all the more pressing as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. “Rwanda looks forward to welcoming all delegates and participants to Kigali next year for a safe and productive meeting.”

Timeline of CFC activities
for CHOGM

2018 CHOGM London

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The Commonwealth Fashion Exchange Showcases

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Commonwealth Fashion Counil x Google Arts & Culture

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Google Arts & Culture Feature

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CHOHM 2021

The theme for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2021 is ‘Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming.’ Commonwealth Heads of Governments will discuss how to deliver the things which were discussed at CHOGM 2018 in London, which was on the theme ‘Towards a Common Future’. Ahead of the meeting, members of parliament, youth and gender activists, and representatives from society and business will meet at special forums to make sure the voices of women, young people, businesses and other organisations are heard at CHOGM.

Take a look here to see what the CFC will be delivering for the Commonwealth Business Forum at CHOGM