AUSTRALIA: Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) opens in Perth, Australia where leaders plan to strengthen human rights commitment and prevent the institution from sliding into irrelevance
Record ID:
559567
AUSTRALIA: Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) opens in Perth, Australia where leaders plan to strengthen human rights commitment and prevent the institution from sliding into irrelevance
- Title: AUSTRALIA: Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) opens in Perth, Australia where leaders plan to strengthen human rights commitment and prevent the institution from sliding into irrelevance
- Date: 29th October 2011
- Summary: PERTH, AUSTRALIA (OCTOBER 28, 2011) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF PERTH AUSTRALIAN FLAG POLICE BOAT ON RIVER SECURITY OUTSIDE CONVENTION CENTRE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING (CHOGM) SIGN ROADBLOCK POLICE SPEAKING TO DRIVER POLICE CAR PERTH, AUSTRALIA (OCTOBER 28, 2011) (REUTERS FOR CHOGM POOL) VARIOUS OF AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER JULIA GILLARD WAITING FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH TO ARRIVE QUEEN ELIZABETH'S MOTORCADE ARRIVING VARIOUS OF QUEEN ELIZABETH ARRIVING
- Embargoed: 13th November 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Australia
- Country: Australia
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA7Z6XAPYGOKTD46NKD82DR0EDU
- Story Text: Leaders of the Commonwealth group of mostly former British colonies met on Friday (October 07) for a three-day summit under pressure to get tougher on human rights abuses by members or risk losing its purpose as a group.
Britain's 85-year-old Queen Elizabeth opened the meeting of leaders of the 54 states of the Commonwealth, home to 30 percent of the world's population and five of the G20 leading economies but struggling to make an impact on global policies.
The leadup to the summit has been dominated by pressure to take a stronger line on human and political rights abuses. A confidential report to the group warned that unless it did, the Commonwealth risked becoming pointless as an organisation.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, in her opening speech, touched on the need for change.
"The strength and success of our fellowship is no accident, it comes from a commitment to make Commonwealth values real and present in the life of each member nation and to ensure that those member nations that fall short understand that their peers want to see change," she said.
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.
A senior Commonwealth official said foreign ministers on Thursday failed to agree on a key recommendation in an "eminent persons" report that the group set up a rights commissioner.
Queen Elizabeth said she was looking forward to reading the recommendations.
"And 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," she said in her opening speech.
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.
Smaller countries within the group, many at risk from the effects of global warming, are pressing for a strong statement ahead of next month's international summit of climate change in the South African city of Durban.
There have also been calls on leaders to help to end the practice of child brides. Twelve of the 20 countries in the world with the highest rates of child brides are in the Commonwealth.
And health advocates say laws in 41 Commonwealth states making homosexuality a crime breached human rights, hindering the fight against HIV-AIDS. Commonwealth states are home to 60 percent of the world's HIV-AIDS population. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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