Commonwealth leaders agree to be more proactive on human rights

Saturday, 29 October 2011 00:36 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: Leaders of the Commonwealth group of mostly former British colonies on Friday took tentative steps to tighten up on human rights abuses by members but have still to address tougher measures some warn the group must take to remain relevant.

Britain’s 85-year-old Queen Elizabeth opened the meeting of leaders of the 54 states of the Commonwealth, home to a third of the world’s population and five of the G20 leading economies but struggling to make much impact on global policies.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard told reporters that the leaders had backed an internal report calling for a more proactive stance in defending human rights.

“That report and all of its reform proposals and recommendations, has been adopted...It means that this meeting has already acted to embrace reform and strengthening of the Commonwealth,” she said, adding, “The purpose of these reform proposals is to enable the Commonwealth to act when a country is veering off course in terms of democratic values and the rule of law, rather than waiting until a country has gone to a grossly unacceptable stage, and leaders only having the option of suspension or expulsion in front of them.”

No country has ever been expelled from the Commonwealth, though some have been suspended following military coups.

The lead-up to the summit has been dominated by pressure to take a stronger line on human and political rights abuses.

The summit still has to grapple with a more contentious ‘eminent persons’ report which warns that without a much tougher stand, the Commonwealth could slide into irrelevance. A key suggestion in the confidential report, seen by Reuters, is for the group to establish a human rights commissioner - something some members oppose. Much of the debate has focused on Sri Lanka and international demands that it allow an independent inquiry into accusations of war crimes during its 25-year civil war, especially in its final months in 2009.

Sri Lanka says it will wait for the results of its own investigation next month, calling the pressure over human rights a propaganda war waged by the defeated Tamil Tigers.

Canada, home to a large ethnic Tamil community, has said it will boycott the 2013 Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka, unless the host country improves its human rights record.

“Today, Commonwealth leaders are faced with a choice - reform the Commonwealth so that it can effectively address human rights violations by its members, or risk becoming irrelevant,” said Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific Deputy Director Madhu Malhotra.