CHRI Advocacy at CHOGM 2005

The biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings (CHOGM) are important targets for CHRI’s advocacy. It is important that civil society voices remind government delegations that human rights are at the heart of the Commonwealth. After all, human rights are our common wealth.

The 2005 CHOGM was held in Malta on the 25th to 27th of November and CHRI was, as always, active around this event. Activities included:

Commonwealth Human Rights Forum: This is the second CHRF organised by CHRI and was held at the St James Cavallier Centre in Valletta on November 20th and 21st. The theme of the meeting was "Networking for Human Rights" and discussions focused on the importance of providing adequate space to civil society so that human rights activities and interventions are possible. The forum was facilitated by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) in collaboration with the Amnesty International Malta Group and co-founders of the Commonwealth Human Rights Network (the Association of Commonwealth Amnesty International Sections and the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit). Financial support was provided by the Commonwealth Foundation and the British Council.

The following Commonwealth countries were represented at the meeting: Australia, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Canada, Fiji, Ghana, India, Jamaica, Maldives, Malta, Sierra Leone, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, UK. Representatives of the former Commonwealth country Zimbabwe also participated in the meeting. Other countries were to be represented at the meeting, however approximately 15 delegates were denied visas by the Malta Immigration Police. A representative of the Commonwealth Secretariat was present at the Forum as observer. Guido De Marco, the Chair of the Commonwealth Foundation, addressed the Forum at the opening ceremony, whilst the Commonwealth Secretary-General Donald McKinnon addressed the Forum during the closing session. More information on the Forum can be found here. The concluding statement and recommendations from the Human Rights Forum can be found at this link.

Commonwealth submissions: CHRI met with delegations at CHOGM to raise our concerns on human rights issues in the Commonwealth, and sent written submissions to all delegations. CHRI also prepared the following submission to the pre-CHOGM meeting of the Committee of the Whole.

Launch of CHRI's 2005 human rights report to CHOGM: Every two years, just before each CHOGM, CHRI brings out a report on a major human rights issue of concern. In recognition of the crucial importance of good policing to democracy, development and the practical realisation of human rights, CHRI has dedicated its 2005 report to the topic of police accountability in the Commonwealth. The report, titled Police Accountability: Too Important to Neglect, Too Urgent to Delay, was launched in Malta on Tuesday 22nd November by the Hon. Dr. Tonio Borg, the Maltese Justice Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.

Media: CHRI actively engages with the media during the Commonwealth period to highlight some of the human rights situations in Commonwealth countries. To view CHOGM Media Coverage, click here.

An advance media release on the 10th anniversary of the assassination of activist Ken Saro-Wiwa can be found here.

A media release outlining the details of the launch can be accessed here.

A media release on the Commonwealth Human Rights Forum can be accessed here.

The CHOGM edition of CHRI's newsletter can be downloaded here.

Other Commonwealth events: CHRI also engages with other Commonwealth events, such as speaking on human rights and governance at the Commonwealth Youth Forum (Friday 18th November).