News & Events

Botswana has declared a special public holiday to celebrate the inauguration of its new President, Advocate Duma Gideon Boko. Government spokesperson Montlenyane Baaitse confirmed that the holiday will begin with a half-day on Thursday, November 7, followed by a full-day paid holiday on Friday, November 8, 2024.

The holiday will allow Batswana to attend the inauguration and mark the historic moment of the country’s 6th president assuming office. Baaitse encouraged citizens, especially long-distance travellers, to plan their journeys in advance to safely attend the ceremony in Gaborone. This initiative highlights the government’s commitment to fostering national unity as Botswana enters a new era of leadership under President Boko.

Read the original article here: https://bulawayo24.com/news/national/247585

In a significant gathering at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2024 in Apia, Samoa, Ankita Yadav, representing the Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce, met with Hon Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molio’o, Samoa’s Minister for Women, Community, and Social Development. The encounter occurred during the Women’s Forum, a key event of the CHOGM proceedings.

Minister Ale-Molio’o delivered a powerful message, emphasizing the urgent need for action on gender equality. She stressed that the forum’s purpose extended beyond mere discussion, calling for concrete steps towards change. The Minister expressed her belief in the collective power of the attendees to drive meaningful and lasting transformation across the Commonwealth and beyond.

The Women’s Forum, which concluded on 22 October 2024, was a collaborative effort between the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Samoan Government. It served as a platform for women leaders, policymakers, and activists from across the Commonwealth to convene and address pressing issues facing women today. The forum aimed to chart a course for enhanced gender equality across all sectors, underlining the Commonwealth’s commitment to this crucial cause.

Read the original information here: https://thecommonwealth.org/news/chogm2024/commonwealth-womens-forum-opens-samoa-calls-stronger-action-gender-equality

Ankita Yadav, our representative from the Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce, recently had the opportunity to meet with Hon Myles LaRoda, Member of Parliament and Minister for Social Services, Information, and Broadcasting of The Bahamas, during the Women’s Forum at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2024 held in Apia, Samoa.

At the forum, government, environmental groups, and civil society experts gathered to discuss strategies for closing critical gaps in representation, data, and financing to ensure women are fully engaged in climate action—from policymaking to on-the-ground implementation.

Hon Myles K. LaRoda spoke passionately on the issue, drawing from the recent experiences of The Bahamas, which faced the devastation of Hurricane Dorian, a category five storm. He highlighted that many of those displaced by the storm were women and girls, underscoring the urgent need for gender-responsive climate action.

For more information read here: https://thecommonwealth.org/news/chogm2024/commonwealth-womens-forum-opens-samoa-calls-stronger-action-gender-equality