Millbrook Commonwealth Action Programme

E35150

The Millbrook Commonwealth Action Programme is a set of measures adopted by Commonwealth leaders in 1995 to strengthen the organization’s ability to uphold its principles, particularly democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, through more robust enforcement and sanctions mechanisms.


Statements (49)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Commonwealth of Nations programme
international political agreement
adoptedBy Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
Commonwealth leaders
adoptedUnder Commonwealth of Nations
adoptionCountry New Zealand
adoptionDateApproximate November 1995
adoptionEvent 1995 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
adoptionPlace Millbrook Resort, Queenstown, New Zealand
adoptionYear 1995
appliesTo all Commonwealth member states
basedOn Harare Commonwealth Declaration
category 1995 in international relations
Commonwealth of Nations politics
enforcementScope serious or persistent violations of Commonwealth principles
unconstitutional overthrow of democratically elected governments
establishes Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group
focus democracy
good governance
human rights
rule of law
followed Harare Commonwealth Declaration of 1991
historicalSignificance marked a shift from declaratory principles to enforcement mechanisms in the Commonwealth
implements Harare Commonwealth Declaration principles
language English
legalStatus political commitment by Commonwealth member states
linkedBody Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group
mechanismType enforcement mechanism for Commonwealth principles
monitoringBody Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group
name Millbrook Commonwealth Action Programme
principleUpheld democratic governance
independence of the judiciary
regular, free and fair elections
respect for human rights
rule of law
providesFor collective Commonwealth measures in response to serious or persistent violations
graduated sanctions against member states
political dialogue with member states in difficulty
public and private diplomacy
review of serious or persistent violations of democratic principles
suspension of member states from the Councils of the Commonwealth
technical assistance to support democratic governance
purpose to enhance enforcement of Commonwealth principles
to provide a framework for collective action against serious or persistent violations of Commonwealth principles
to strengthen the Commonwealth’s ability to uphold its principles
region Commonwealth of Nations
sanctionsMechanism other appropriate measures decided collectively by Commonwealth members
suspension from the Councils of the Commonwealth
shortName Millbrook Programme


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