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Volume 14 Number 3
New Delhi, Autumn 2007
Newsletter   

Final Recommendations of Commonwealth Human Rights Forum

Compiled from the final statement of the Commonwealth Human Rights Forum

On 19th and 20th November 2007, prior to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), human rights activists and civil society actors from across the Commonwealth, met in Kampala, Uganda, for the third Commonwealth Human Rights Forum (CHRF), entitled “Transforming societies - realising people’s potential: Living up to Human Rights Commitments”. CHRF was co-convened by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, Amnesty International, Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit, HURINET and the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative.

The issues discussed included the rights of marginalised and vulnerable communities, threats to civil society across the Commonwealth, counter-terrorism measures that violate human rights standards, and the need for measures to ensure effective and accountable policing. Also discussed were some countries of particular concern including Pakistan, Fiji, The Gambia and the host country, Uganda, as well as past member, Zimbabwe.

The Forum also deliberated Commonwealth processes and the need to ensure genuine civil society participation, including introducing a formal mechanism for civil society engagement with the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG). Additionally, the role of Commonwealth countries in the United Nations was discussed, with the need for member states to fully implement their pledges and commitments and promote and protect human rights at the UN Human Rights Council, including full participation in the Universal Periodic Review.

After two days of discussion, delegates circulated a concluding statement and recommendations. Participants called on:

  • The Commonwealth to establish an Expert Group on Policing to develop best practice guidelines on all aspects of policing and training and to monitor police practices across the Commonwealth.
  • The Commonwealth to work actively to ensure the adoption of and effective implementation of access to information laws, to enable democratic participation.
  • The Commonwealth to revisit the Commonwealth’s election monitoring role, including an examination of ways to strengthen such a role via civil society consultations.
  • Commonwealth members to ensure that the procedure the UN Human Rights Council adopts for Universal Peer Review should be independent and meaningful, with appropriate participation of experts (and not merely by other member states) and that the process should be preceded by some discussions at the national level with the participation of civil society.
  • Commonwealth members to fully implement pledges and commitments made at the UN Human Rights Council, including ensuring decisions are consistent with human rights values.
  • Commonwealth members to ensure the independence of National Human Rights Institutions, through adequate funding and strict conformity with the Paris Principles.
  • Commonwealth members to sign, ratify and implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities.
  • The Commonwealth to establish a mechanism for the protection of human rights defenders.
  • Uganda to exercise special leadership, as it takes the chair of the Commonwealth, to improve its human rights record, including the protection of civil society space.

To read the full statement and recommendations, visit CHRI website www.humanrightsinitiative.org. The full text of the statement and recommendations will also be published in the next edition of the CHRI newsletter.

 
 
CHRI Newsletter, Autumn 2007


Editors: Aditi Datta, & Venkatesh Nayak, CHRI;
Layout: Print: Print World, Web Developer: Swayam Mohanty, CHRI.
Acknowledgement: Many thanks to all contributors

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The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) is an independent international NGO mandated to ensure the practical realisation of human rights in the Commonwealth.