Patricia Scotland to become the Commonwealth’s first woman Secretary General

The first woman to occupy the post in the 53-member block's history is Patricia Scotland, a Dominica-born British lawyer. She was appointed as the Commonwealth's new Secretary General.In 2001 she had become Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department and, was made a member of the Privy Council of the UK.The Commonwealth Secretary-General is the head of the Commonwealth Secretariat, the central body which has served the Commonwealth of Nations since its establishment in 1965, and responsible for representing the Commonwealth publicly.
About Commonwealth Nations
- group of 53 states, all of which (except for two) were formerly part of the British Empire.some countries, such as Samoa, Papua New Guinea and Namibia were closely related to member counteries rather than former british colonies.
- All nations entered into the Commonwealth voluntarily.
- Criteria to join Commonwealth
1. It must first recognize Elizabeth II as the head of the Commonwealth. 
2. Other criteria are: racial equality, and the embrace of world peace, liberty, human rights, equality, and free trade.
3. a nation must have a ''direct constitutional link'' with any current member-state.
- Advantages of being a member:
1. consular services exist for countries in good standing.
2. ''Commonwealth Citizen'' passport issued at a British Embassy for those who who are stuck in a country that is not represented at a consulate by their government can get representation by this temporary passport.
- Functions:
1.To create strong links between rich and poor countries, bringing together a variety of religious faiths and demographics in one institution.
2. It does offer the opportunity for smaller nations to sit down with larger nations at the bi-annual Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 
- Commonwealth Games:
Every four years, the Commonwealth of Nations puts together the Commonwealth Games, hosted in a different city and organized by the Commonwealth Games Federation. he next Commonwealth Games will be held in Gold Coast, Australia, in 2018.