![]() The most recent departure was the Maldives, which severed its connection with the Commonwealth on 13 October 2016. The newest member is Rwanda, which joined on 29 November 2009. In 1949, the London Declaration was signed and marked the birth of the modern Commonwealth and the adoption of its present name. Known as the "British Commonwealth", the original members were the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, and Newfoundland, although Australia and New Zealand did not adopt the statute until 19 respectively. The Commonwealth was first officially formed in 1931 when the Statute of Westminster gave legal recognition to the sovereignty of dominions. This position, however, does not imbue her with any political or executive power over any Commonwealth member states the position is purely symbolic, and it is the Commonwealth Secretary-General who is the chief executive of the Commonwealth. The symbol of this free association is Queen Elizabeth II who serves as the Head of the Commonwealth. Such common values and goals include the promotion of democracy, human rights, good governance, the rule of law, individual liberty, egalitarianism, free trade, multilateralism, and world peace which are carried out through multilateral projects and meetings which include the Commonwealth Games held once every four years. Rather, the relationship is one of an international organisation through which countries with diverse social, political, and economic backgrounds are regarded as equal in status and cooperate within a framework of common values and goals as outlined in the Singapore Declaration issued in 1971. ![]() No one government in the Commonwealth exercises power over the others as is the case in a political union. Most are former British colonies or dependencies of these colonies. The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of 52 independent and sovereign states. ![]() Current Commonwealth members (dark blue), current suspended members (green), former members (orange), and British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies (light blue)
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