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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 22 NOVEMBER 2015 18 18 This is a paid advert Next week, Commonwealth leaders will gath- er in Malta for the 24th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), where they will be selecting a new Secretary-General and setting the future course of the organi- sation. Under the theme The Commonwealth - Adding Global Value, this year's summit seeks to unify the Commonwealth behind an ambitious policy agenda that bequeaths to our young a life of liberty, dignity and prosperity. It deals with using the Common- wealth's strengths in international politics to influence and eventually effect changes on important global issues. Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals Commonwealth leaders will be attempting to find ways forward to accelerate implemen- tation of the 17 ambitious Sustainable Devel- opment Goals (SDGs) that were laid down by the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustain- able Development. This Agenda was adopted recently by the United National General As- sembly at the Sustainable Development Sum- mit in New York. Leaders will be discussing and taking a stance on the adverse impacts of climate change, violent extremism, migra- tion, support to small states, and sustainable development. Climate Action One of the SDGs refers to the need to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. With a Special Session on Climate Action forming part of the CHOGM Malta 2015 agenda, Commonwealth leaders attempt to build political support around the issue prior to the 21st Session of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21), in hope that the Paris meeting will be successful. The Climate Action Session will be espe- cially significant with the attendance of international leaders UN Secretary Gen- eral Ban Ki-Moon and French President and host of COP21, Francois Hollande. The Prince of Wales and European Commis- sioner for the Environment Karmenu Vella will also participate in this Special Session. Violent Extremism and Radicalisation CHOGM 2015 will also explore strengthening peace efforts and countering radicalisation and violent extremism. Given its diversity, the Commonwealth is particularly well placed to create common ground among its members. Indeed, it is expected that heads of govern- ment reaffirm their commitment to invest in safeguarding citizens from threats posed by violent extremism as set out in the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2178 of 2014. Further to this, leaders will share prac- tical strategies to counter such issues. Discussions will give a chance to Com- monwealth leaders to build an international alliance on the process needed to create a peaceful society, a much desired one in light of the atrocities being witnessed. Migration CHOGM Malta 2015 follows the Valletta Summit on Migration hosted a few days ago in Malta. It also precedes the World Humani- tarian Summit envisaged to take place in Istanbul in 2016. In light of these summits, discussions during the forthcoming CHOGM will be addressing the current global issue of migration which features high on the international debate. The migration crisis created tremendous movements of people which is troubling both for the host coun- tries and the fled countries. During the Summit, renewed emphasis on the countries' compliance with the interna- tional humanitarian and refugee conven- tions in light of the refugee crisis is due. In turn, Commonwealth leaders will look into the root causes of the crisis and address them accordingly. It is expected that a collective statement outlining Commonwealth leaders' standing on migration and the way forward for Com- monwealth countries will be issued by lead- ers during the Summit. With the strength and ambition to advance fair and sustainable solutions, the upcoming summit will see a community of countries meet and develop universally acceptable answers to these global problems. The Commonwealth. Adding global value Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat with Commonwealth secretary general Kamalesh Sharma