Commonwealth of Nations/Timelines

• 1887: The first Colonial Conference beginning a series of consultations between Britain and its colonies.
• 1926 The 6th Imperial Conference established the Dominions as equal communities within the British Empire, with a common allegiance to the Crown.
• 1930: First Commonwealth Games held in Hamilton, Canada.
• 1931 Statute of Westminster confirmed the equality of Britain and the Dominions of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, and Newfoundland.
• 1949 The London Declaration
• 1965 The Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Foundation are established
• 1961 South Africa's membership is suspended because of is apartheid policy.
• 1971 The Singapore Declaration of Commonwealth Principles including individual liberty, democratic rights and opposition to colonialism and racialism

Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation

• 1972: Pakistan withdraws from the Commonwealth over impending recognition of Bangladesh.
• 1977 Gleneagles Agreement discouraging sporting contacts with South Africa because of its apartheid policies.
• 1979 Lusaka Declaration on Racism and Racial Prejudice.
• 1987 Fiji suspended from Commonwealth following the overthrow of its government.
• 1991 The Harare Commonwealth Declaration adds democracy, good government and human rights to the Commonwealth's shared principles.
• 1994 South Africa rejoins the Commonwealth following the end of apartheid.
• 1995 Nigeria is suspended from the Commonwealth after it sentenced to death the writer Ken Saro-Wiwa and a group of fellow activists.

The Millbrook Commonwealth Action Programme specified the action to be taken in response to violations of the Harare principles

Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group is set up to deal with violators of the Harare principles.

• 1997 - Fiji is reinstated after it adopts new constitution more in line with Commonwealth's shared principles.
• 1999 Nigeria reinstated after its return to civilian rule.

Pakistan suspended because of military take-over.

• 2002 Zimbabwe is suspended for a year over President Robert Mugabe's controversial re-election.
• 2003 Heads of Government adopt the Latimer House Principles on the three branches of government

Zimbabwe's suspension is made permanent.

• 2004 Pakistan is readmitted.
• 2007 Pakistan is suspended for a second time after President Musharraf declares a state of emergency and sacks top judges.
• 2008 Pakistan's suspension is lifted when Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group says the government has taken positive steps to fulfil its obligations.
• 2009 Rwanda becomes the 54th member of the Commonwealth

Fiji is suspended from membership after military ruler refuses to schedule elections.

Affirmation of Commonwealth Values and Principles including a call for the Eminent Persons Group to report on the options for reform.

• 2011 Heads of Government fail to endorse all of the Eminent Persons report on the need for reform concerning democracy and human rights[1].
• 2012 Commonwealth Advisory Bureau (CA/B) submission to the UK Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee Inquiry on "The role and future of the Commonwealth" [2].