Write CHOGM!

WRITE CHOGM! RESOURCES

• 1. Letter Writing Tips & Talking Points
• 2. Be a Global Witness
• 3. Where to Send Your Letter
• 4. Facts: CHOGM 2007, Uganda

Be an active witness. Set aside 21 minutes, Write CHOGM!

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was held November 23-25th, 2007 in Kampala, Uganda. Nearly all Commonwealth heads of state, including the Queen of England attended the meeting. Northern Uganda was not on the meeting's agenda.

Protests organized by the opposition were violently suppressed.

Despite Uganda's recent rash of human rights violations, President Museveni was complimented by both the Queen and Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon for ruling democratically.

• The values and goals of the Commonwealth include:
  
  
• the promotion of democracy, human rights, good governance and the rule of law
  
• individual liberty, egalitarianism, free trade, multilateralism, and world peace

• The stark dichotomy between the ideals and objectives of the Commonwealth and the reality of Uganda today are achingly apparent. Ironically, this year’s CHOGM theme was: ‘Transforming Commonwealth Societies to achieve Political, Economic and Human Development."
  

• The fate of millions of Ugandans residing in government camps lies in the balance. It is appalling that one of the architects of their suffering, President Yoweri Museveni, is now Chairman of the Commonwealth.
  
  
• The world has remained a silent witness to this, a reflection in part due to the successful public relations campaign waged by the Ugandan government and its allies.

We strongly encourage you to take the time to write to different media outlets, your government representatives and the Commonwealth Secretariat.