Patricia Scotland KC

It has been the greatest joy and privilege of my life to serve as the 6th Secretary-General of the #Commonwealth. I am profoundly grateful to our member countries, @CommonwealthSec staff, partners and the entire Commonwealth family for walking with me on this journey.

The flaws in this Private Members Bill have been laid bare, the risks are clear and unaddressed,the safeguards are ineffective. If assisted death is to permitted it can not be in this form nor through this process.

@NizamiGanjaviIC @UN_Valovaya @_anar_guliyev @RGrynspan @ITUSecGen @WUF13Azerbaijan @UNGeneva @AnacludiaRossb1 @tlamanauskas @UNCTAD Really looking forward to joining everyone in Baku. It’s time for action-finding solutions which work for everyone to deliver the change we need for a safer world.

📌Report video from the XXXV High-Level Meeting in #Geneva. #XXXVHLM #NGIC #highlevelmeeting @UN_Valovaya @_anar_guliyev

XXXV High-Level Meeting titled “Reshaping Multilateralism in an Era of Divides and Transformation” PANEL 5: Human Mobility, Health, and Global Solidarity Moderator: - Valdis Zatlers (@VZatlers ), President of #Latvia 2007-2011 Speakers: - Paolo Rondelli, Former Captain Regent of the Republic of San Marino - Patricia Scotland (@PScotlandKC ), former Commonwealth Secretary-General; Member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom #XXXVHLM #GENEVA #NGIC

@NizamiGanjaviIC Great to be able to participate in this dynamic panel to scope our future.

@NOIweala @NizamiGanjaviIC @UNGeneva @UNCTAD @ITU There has never been a moment when we needed multilateralism more. Such a joy to be with those committed to finding solutions to some of the world’s greatest challenges.

Participated in the @NizamiGanjaviIC / UN High-Level Panel at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on Reshaping Multilateralism in an Era of Divides and Transformation. In a panel with Tatiana Valovaya, DG @UNGeneva, Rebecca Grynspan, SG @UNCTAD, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, SG @ITU, HE Amre Moussa, former MFA of Egypt, Anaclaudia Rossbach, ED of @UNHABITAT, and other colleagues. Coordinated by HE Former Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zlatko Lagumdzija @LagumdzijaZ. Also great to see old friends Baroness Patricia Scotland @PScotlandKC, former Commonwealth SG, and Hafez Ghanem, former VP at the World Bank, in this gathering.

@m_abdelsallam Wonderful to be with the Judging Committee for this historic meeting with the Grand Imam to promote peace and harmony for humanity.

📹HIGHLIGHTS REEL! Watch almost every professional body that gave evidence & numerous groups representing vulnerable people express profound concerns with major aspects of the assisted suicide Bill at the recent House of Lords select committee. Essential viewing for Peers! 🧵1/

Recorded - video update from Charles Rowe Bridge following heavy rainfall on Nov. 16, 2025. #Barbados #ClimateCrisis

SHOCKING STAT FROM NEW ZEALAND Baroness Scotland (@PScotlandKC) points out that since introducing assisted suicide, New Zealand has slid from the 3rd best palliative-care system in the world to the 12th.

Baroness Hollins cuts through the spin. The Royal College of Psychiatrists did NOT endorse this Bill in its current form. They only voted on a general principle of assisted suicide, and did not vote to support this specific legislation.

👏Baroness Scotland (@PScotlandKC) argues that the Mental Capacity Act simply is not adequate to be used to assess capacity in relation to assisted suicide.

Wishing King Charles III, a very Happy Birthday ✨🎉🥰💕

At the Joint Committee on Human Rights today, @thelizcarr makes an excellent point. The one safeguard that is needed is that #assistedsuicide remains illegal. Bravo!

Remembering Queen Elizabeth II, 1926-2022

@MBuhari so sad to hear this news. Your support and friendship throughout the period my years of service as SG @commonwealthsec was pivotal. Please get well soon. You will remain in our thoughts and prayers.

@HadjimanoliM @commonwealthsec Wonderful to see a continuation of this wonderful work celebrating the Commonwealth’s leadership and the commitment demonstrated by all 56 countries to deliver and implement the aspiration embedded in the Blue Charter. Thank you dear Marina for continuing to champion.

Today, I had the privilege of meeting with Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. Our conversation focused on strengthening the cooperation between Cyprus and the Commonwealth family in the maritime sector, with particular attention to sustainability, decarbonization, marine protection as well as the establishment of the Blue Charter Center of Excellence. The Center of Excellence was established following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in April 2024, between the Shipping Deputy Ministry, the Commonwealth, and the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI). The Centre of Excellence will provide support and expertise in developing policies that will assist the Commonwealth and other island and coastal nations to address maritime challenges. Cyprus remains dedicated to supporting the Commonwealth’s shared goals and enhancing maritime ties to advance global shipping together. Looking forward to our continued collaboration! @maritimeCyprus @CyprusInUK @AyorkorBotchwey @commonwealthsec

Along with former Commonwealth Secretary General, @PScotlandKC, our UK trade envoy to Bangladesh, Baroness Rosie Winterton and Minister for Climate, @KerryMP, it was a pleasure to meet with the Chief Adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh on his official visit to the UK. @ChiefAdviserGoB The UK government is committed to deepening the UK-Bangladesh trade and investment partnership, and our shared ambitions for economic growth, job creation and prosperity. The UK has been clear in its support for the Interim Government’s work on accountability and creating a pathway to an inclusive democratic future for Bangladesh.

Glad for the opportunity to meet with @commonwealthsec Health Ministers ahead of #WHA78. I welcome their commitment to strengthen health financing to: 1) address critical shortages in the health and care workforce; 2) increase uptake of digital health tools; and 3) improve access to quality-assured health products My ask was to continue supporting the #PandemicAccord and sustainable financing for @WHO.

Pope Francis was the rare leader who made us want to be better people. In his humility and his gestures at once simple and profound – embracing the sick, ministering to the homeless, washing the feet of young prisoners – he shook us out of our complacency and reminded us that we are all bound by moral obligations to God and one another. Today, Michelle and I mourn with everyone around the world – Catholic and non-Catholic alike – who drew strength and inspiration from the Pope’s example. May we continue to heed his call to “never remain on the sidelines of this march of living hope.”