PLENARY SESSION - RESPONDING TO THE COMMONWEALTH CHARTER
of violence endured by the gay/ lesbians/transgender community. Its omission was particularly noted given that so many countries, including some Commonwealth countries, still regarded homosexuality as a punishable crime.
Capital punishment is still a reality as it is lawful in 36 of the 58 countries. It is imperative that the Charter be monitored and reviewed and that Parliaments uphold and promote human rights.
Ms McCarthy stressed the issue should be an agenda item at the next CPA Conference in Cameroon. She continued that the Commonwealth had to take a leading role in ensuring that women were protected in cases of violence such as corrective rape of lesbians, forced marriages and stoning.
She concluded that though the Charter was a great accomplishment, the Commonwealth could not be complacent or conceal the violation of human rights. In short, the Commonwealth had to be a strong voice in the world.
the world but again members had to fight for tangible policies from governments to improve education for girls and boys.
Despite all states and citizens being equal in the Commonwealth, the inclusion of access to health, education, food and shelter in the Charter reflected the striking economic inequalities that existed. It was therefore incumbent on the Commonwealth to work at reducing these inequalities.
According to the United Nations Development Programme, the Commonwealth is home to over 60 per cent of people with HIV. In light of this, special attention on the treatment and prevention of HIV and AIDS was required from the Commonwealth. Speaking about the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Ms McCarthy said that the Commonwealth could play a central role in its advancement in two years’ time, by deciding upon goals post-2015 and how these could be achieved. The commitment to protect of the environment is essential and
reflected the urgent and compelling challenges the majority of countries faced in the 21st century. Many of the Commonwealth nations, especially the small island states, were particularly vulnerable to climate change. The Commonwealth needed to prioritize multilateral cooperation and concerted collective action to reduce carbon emissions, limit rises at sea level and safeguard habitats. The clear commitment to human rights and democracy including Rule of Law, Freedom of Expressions and the Separation of Powers are universal and human rights. The endorsement of religious freedom is fundamentally important. Governments have the responsibility to respect these commitments. The Charter rightly stated that the Commonwealth is opposed to all forms of discrimination whether rooted in gender, race, colour, creed, political belief or any other grounds. The Charter however did not explicitly refer to discrimination on the grounds of sexuality given the discrimination and in some countries, the acts
A milestone in Commonwealth countries’ development and prosperity
Ambassador Adonia Ayebare, Political Affairs Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat, began by reminding participants of the Charter’s history and significance. On 11 March 2003, Commonwealth Day, HM Queen Elizabeth II signed the Commonwealth Charter and on 14 December 2012 it was signed by the members of the Commonwealth. This single document committed Commonwealth countries to uphold the values to which they committed themselves to; a commitment that affected approximately a third of the world’s population.
Ambassador Ayebare argued that the adoption of this document was a milestone in the development and prosperity of the Commonwealth countries. The Charter along with Parliamentarians through the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association had the potential to build a network for effective oversight. To
achieve this, countries should:
• Adopt the Charter as an instru- ment in oversight; • Integrate and domesticate the Charter; • Ensure future resolutions and legislation reflected the Charter; and • Reinforce the Commonwealth as guardians of the Charter.
The discussion
In the discussions that followed, a delegate from South Africa requested a greater emphasis on the engagement of citizens to deepen democracy. He also raised the issue of help versus capacitation for vulnerable states and the ensuring of economic development.
The discussion then moved to the issue of human rights and the right of sexual orientation. While some participants voiced their support of the freedom to choose orientation, those opposed to it were equally as vocal. This debated concluded with pleas by delegates not to detract from the importance of the Charter by the focussing on a single issue but rather to see the good in the charter and to see the Charter in its totality.
Recommendations from the Final Plenary
Recommendation One: “CPA Member Parliaments must integrate the provision of the Charter in their work. Parliaments should popularise, monitor and exercise oversight on the Executive for compliance.”
Recommendation Two: “Commonwealth Parliamentarians and Parliaments have a duty to hold their governments to account if they fail to uphold the values set out in the Charter.”
Recommendation Three: “Parliaments are the heart of democratic society and indispensable for popularising, implementing and enhancing the fundamental principles and values of the Commonwealth Charter.”
All recommendations from the Final Plenary were endorsed.
The Parliamentarian | 2013: Issue Four | 331
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124