The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, abbreviated to CHOGM, is a biennialsummit meeting of the heads of government from all Commonwealth nations. Every two years the meeting is held in a different member state, and is chaired by that nation's respective Prime Minister or President. Most meetings include an appearance by Queen Elizabeth II, who is the Head of the Commonwealth. The meetings originated with the First Colonial Conference in 1877 and periodic meetings (known as Imperial Conferences beginning in 1911) of government leaders of the British Empire. From 1944 until 1971, the meetings were known as Commonwealth Prime Ministers Conferences and were generally held biennially in London, although the Commonwealth leaders met in Lagos in 1966. The first CHOGM was held in 1971.
In the past, CHOGMs have attempted to orchestrate common policies on certain contentious issues and current events, with a special focus on issues affecting member nations. In the past, CHOGMs have discussed the continuation of apartheid rule in South Africa and how to stop it, military coups in Pakistan and Fiji, and allegations of electoral fraud in Zimbabwe. Sometimes the member states agree on a common idea or solution, and release a joint statement declaring their opinion.
1978 - A bomb went off outside the venue of the 1978 CHOGM in Sydney, known as the Hilton Bombing.
2001 - CHOGM 2001, slated to be held in Brisbane on October 6-9, was cancelled for security reasons in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. The Meeting was adjourned to March 2002, and held in the seaside resort of Coolum, Queensland.
