Commonwealth leaders fail to set up human rights watchdog
Commonwealth leaders failed to establish a human rights watchdog, but insisted that progress had been made during the summit to promote democratic values.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said unspecified nations among the group of mainly former British colonies had rejected a key reform proposal to set up a commissioner overseeing human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
"Australia and a number of delegations indicated that they were supportive of this proposal," Gillard told reporters following a day of talks with other Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) leaders.
"But there were a number of delegations concerned by it and the Commonwealth is an organisation that involves consensus in its decision-making."
The three-day CHOGM summit began on Friday amid warnings that the organisation representing two billion people was becoming irrelevant because of its failure to address human rights abuses among member states.
Malta was represented by foreign minister Tonio Borg who stepped in for Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi who could not travel to Australia due to an urgent eurozone crisis summit in Brussels on Wednesday.
During the meeting, chaired by Queen Elisabeth II, Sri Lanka had been under sharp focus in the lead up to CHOGM amid accusations its forces committed war crimes in 2009 as it ended a decades-long civil war against Tamil Tiger separatists.
An Eminent Persons Group that CHOGM commissioned two years ago to look at the human rights issue and other problems within the organisation had recommended that an independent watchdog be established.
But while rich countries such as Australia, Britain and Canada favoured a stronger focus on human rights and other contentious issues, many developing nations expressed resentment at outside influence.
Nevertheless, Gillard pointed to another recommendation of the Eminent Persons Group -- to establish a common charter of values -- that was endorsed on Saturday as a sign of progress.
"The charter will be finalised in 2012 and it will bring together the Commonwealth values, principles and aspirations in one clear and powerful statement," she said.
However the wording of the charter was not finalised.
Members of the Eminent Persons Group had earlier expressed concern that the fate of all their 106 recommendations for reform may be ignored or sidelined.
Other recommendations made by the group including ending homophobic laws in many member nations that are contributing to the spread of HIV-AIDS, and to help small island states deal with climate change.
"If this CHOGM does not deliver such reforms, it is our duty to sound the caution to you that this CHOGM will be remembered not as the triumph it should be, but as a failure," said Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the group's chair.
Queen Elizabeth II had also told the opening of the summit that the organisation needed to adapt to remain "fresh and fit for tomorrow".
"I wish heads of government well in agreeing further reforms that respond boldly to the aspirations of today and that keep the Commonwealth fresh and fit for tomorrow," said the monarch, who departed for London today.
The summit is due to end on Sunday afternoon with a joint communique on a wide range of issues, including human rights, climate change and food security.
The event was being held amid heavy security with the centre of Perth in virtual lockdown to deter potential terrorist threats and limit any protests by those wanting to emulate the global "Occupy" movement.
Jessica Chetcuti •
@ Officer,
Although the UK is not in the Eurozone it is in the UK's national interest that Cameron attended the latest urgent meeting.......After all Britain donates the sum of £57 million a day into the coffers of the ECB for the privilege of being a member of the EU.
He then left for Australia to attend the Commonwealth meeting straight after.
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Of course they fail they are in power. Probably if they were in opposition they would have agreed. Who has the interest at heart, the Maltese Government ? If he did the number of nationals below the poverty line would decrease not increase.
The €500 would have been given to those below the poverty line not to those who are drowing themselves in wealth, and those €1,16 would have been given to those who don't need as much.
Human rights watchdog would redden the faces of some of the Commonwealth Governments who waste money on trival things such as a roofless theatre and a parliament when we have a historical place as parliament. The exagerated taxes that we have to pay, those who's pension, wages / salaries won't suffic to live a decent living, those who are entitled for free medicines and they are out of stock, those who are politically discriminated, those who bully employies in their departments, those who need an operation and have been waiting for years, those who want a job and won't get one, those who speak against injustices and are penalised for speaking up, those who wait for long hours to get to work or go back home.
Thats why they fail to agree
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@B Agius
The UK is NOT in the Eurozone. Cameron would not have been present for meetings for Eurozone countries.
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Gonzi could not go to CHOGM because he attended an important Euro zone meeting in Brussels. David Cameron (UK PM) was at the same meeting and then he was at the opening of CHOGM the very next day. Perhaps Gonzi should have tried to hitch a ride to Western AustraLIA with Cameron...but then again if he did he would've been even more tired than Tonio Borg and they both would have had a smooze together.
