Commonwealth Human Rights Forum 2005

The Commonwealth Human Rights Forum (CHRF) brought together human rights activists from across the Commonwealth in Malta on 20-21 November 2005. The Forum was timed to be just before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to ensure that the outcomes of the CHRF could be submitted to CHOGM. The theme of CHRF 2005 was 'Networking for Human Rights', with a particular focus on issues related to civil society space.

Concluding Statement: the concluding statement and recommendations from the CHRF can be downloaded here. It was submitted to government delegations at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, as well as disseminated to the media and civil society groups.

Objectives:The main objectives of the Commonwealth Human Rights Forum 2005 were to:

• Raise the profile of human rights issues and concerns in the Commonwealth, particularly related to space for effective functioning of civil society and Human Rights Defenders.
• Advocate common human rights concerns to Commonwealth government delegations.
• Provide a platform for sharing not only human rights concerns but also, more importantly, actions and good practice across the Commonwealth from a civil society perspective.
• Provide a space for interaction between civil society groups and National Human Rights Commissions from diverse Commonwealth regions.
• Build skills for advocating on human rights, particularly within the Commonwealth system.
• Enable consolidation and growth of the CHRN to enable more activism.
  

Agenda: The theme of CHOGM and the Commonwealth People's Forum relate to networking. A crucial part to networking in order to promote, protect and fulfill human rights is having the space in which to do so, as an individual or an organisation. The theme of the CHRF was therefore on Networking for Human Rights, including discussions related to restrictions to such space including related to: registration of NGOs, limitations on freedom of association and expression, security and anti-terror measures. The programme of the CHRF can be found here.

Papers: Papers were prepared specifically for the main discussion topics. These include:

Working Session 2 (NGO rules and regulations):

• Rules and Regulations Affecting Civil Society Space (by CHRI)
• Laws to Regulate Foreign Contributions in Commonwealth Nations (by Voluntary Action Network of India)

Working Session 3 (security and anti-terror):

• Anti-terrorism Legislation and Human Rights: A Comparative Analysis of the Commonwealth Model Law (by CHRI)
• In Safe Hands: Police Accountability Key to Allowing Space for Civil Society (by CHRI)
  

Working Session 4 (Using the Commonwealth for human rights advocacy):

• The Commonwealth Secretariat and the Implementation of Human Rights (by Alison Duxbury)

Working Session 5 (Commonwealth Human Rights Network):

• Background paper on the Commonwealth Human Rights Network (by CHRI)

Background: The first CHRF was held in Nigeria in 2003 immediately before the last CHOGM. Participants of the last CHRF have maintained contact through the Commonwealth Human Rights Network, a network of civil society activists that aims to increase human rights advocacy in the Commonwealth. The CHRN was launched in 2003 by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), the Association of Commonwealth Amnesty International Sections (ACAIS) and the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit (CPSU); and is coordinated by CHRI.

The success of the 2003 CHRF - combined with feedback from participants and demand from CHRN members as well through communiqués of international human rights meetings - provided the impetus to hold another Commonwealth Human Rights Forum.

Participants: Participants were drawn from 16 countries across the Commonwealth and represented civil society groups and National Human Rights Institutions.

Media coverage: The CHRF was covered by media groups across the Commonwealth. To view some of this coverage, please click here.

Organisers: The CHRF was organised by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative. Collaborating partners include ACAIS, CPSU and Amnesty International (Malta). Financial support was provided by the Commonwealth Foundation, as well as the British Council.

More information: For more information contact Clare Doube or Andrew Galea Debono