On Monday (March 13), young people from countries across the Commonwealth will raise a ‘Flag of Peace’ to commemorate Commonwealth Day.

Patricia Scotland, Commonwealth secretary-general said that: “Peace is one of the most important values on which the Commonwealth is built.”

“It is fantastic that young people across our great Commonwealth family are uniting with us. It is our hope that by raising the Commonwealth Flag for Peace in each Commonwealth country on Commonwealth Day it will send a clear message – that our collective commitment to peace is unshakable.

It is especially valuable that young people are participating in this event during Commonwealth Week, when we will celebrate the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Commonwealth Charter – the bedrock of shared values and aspirations which unites members across borders,” she added.

The initiative is supported by the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, the Royal Commonwealth Society and Bruno Peek, Pageantmaster.

The Commonwealth flag of peace features a white dove of peace in the bottom right-hand corner of the Commonwealth flag, symbolising the shared values and principles of the Commonwealth, including cooperation on economic and social development, diversity, respect, friendship and the promotion of peace around the world.

Commonwealth Day 2023 also marks the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Commonwealth Charter which was signed by the late Queen Elizabeth II on March 11, 2013. 

“The Charter of the Commonwealth, signed on March 2013, is a landmark document. It is the definitive expression of the values and aspirations of all Commonwealth countries,” Scotland said.

The secretary-general further noted that with the history of commonwealth countries and human struggle and progress, we have made over the years, the Flag for Peace is a fitting way to recognise those values.