🧠 FOUR BODIES, FOUR NUMBERS
UN SECURITY COUNCIL 5 · NATO founded 1949 · COMMONWEALTH 56 · COUNCIL OF EUROPE 47
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The Commonwealth
- The Commonwealth is an association of countries that support each other and work together towards shared goals in democracy and development.
- Most member states were once part of the British Empire, although a few countries which were not have also joined.
- The King is the ceremonial head of the Commonwealth, which currently has 56 member states.
- Membership is voluntary.
- The Commonwealth has no power over its members, although it can suspend membership.
- The Commonwealth is based on the core values of democracy, good government and the rule of law.
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Commonwealth members
- Antigua y Barbuda.
- Australia.
- The Bahamas.
- Bangladesh.
- Barbados.
- Belize.
- Botswana.
- Brunei Darussalam.
- Cameroon.
- Canada.
- Cyprus.
- Dominica.
- Fiji.
- Gabon.
- The Gambia.
- Ghana.
- Grenada.
- Guyana.
- India.
- Jamaica.
- Kenya.
- Kingdom of Eswatini.
- Kiribati.
- Lesotho.
- Malawi.
- Malaysia.
- Maldives.
- Malta.
- Mauritius.
- Mozambique.
- Namibia.
- Nauru.
- New Zealand.
- Nigeria.
- Pakistan.
- Papua New Guinea.
- Rwanda.
- Samoa.
- Seychelles.
- Sierra Leone.
- Singapore.
- Solomon Islands.
- South Africa.
- Sri Lanka.
- St Kitts and Nevis.
- St Lucia.
- St Vincent and the Grenadines.
- Swaziland.
- Tanzania.
- Tonga.
- Trinidad y Tobago.
- Tuvalu.
- Uganda.
- UK.
- Vanuatu.
- Zambia.
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The Council of Europe
- The Council of Europe has 47 member countries, including the UK, and is responsible for the protection and promotion of human rights in those countries.
- It has no power to make laws but draws up conventions and charters, the most well-known of which is the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, usually called the European Convention on Human Rights.
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The United Nations
- The UK is part of the United Nations (UN), an international organisation with more than 190 countries as members.
- The UN was set up after the Second World War and aims to prevent war and promote international peace and security.
- There are 15 members on the UN Security Council, which recommends action when there are international crises and threats to peace.
- The UK is one of five permanent members of the Security Council.
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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
- The UK is also a member of NATO.
- NATO is a group of European and North American countries that have agreed to help each other if they come under attack.
- It also aims to maintain peace between all of its members.
✅ Self-check — can you explain each of these?