INITIATIVE ON FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF
LAUNCHING THE COMMONWEALTH
with Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Christian majority countries was another key reason to base an initiative on freedom of religion or belief in the Commonwealth. Although we live in a world where the headlines seem to be full of references to religion, often inaccurate, this absence of engagement with religion is common amongst most multi-lateral organisations. Here is therefore, yet another opportunity for this nimble network of the Commonwealth to lead the way in how to engage with religious communities and their leaders.
Everyone was there and on tender hooks
There is only so much you can learn about the Commonwealth I have concluded in hindsight, without going to a CHOGM. With four fora in the run up to the actual CHOGM, everyone from the organisations we wanted to connect with had someone there; the Commonwealth
Human Rights Initiative, the Roundtable, the Commonwealth Fora of National Human Rights Institutions, the Commonwealth of Learning, etc. so it was easy to connect with them. Apparently much of the history of the Commonwealth is a feeling that this is a crucial time for the network but it really did feel this way in Malta. The selection of the new Secretary- General meant that everyone was on tender hooks and the Peoples’ Forum along with the Maltese Parliament ran an excellent hustings with the three candidates outlining their vision for the future. I was struck at how active the NGOs were in their engagement in this election and how many of their concerns were about Human Rights. As Baroness Scotland, the candidate from Dominica is also a colleague from the House of Lords and so I was overjoyed for her personally when she was elected. The time, energy and dedication that she put
into her campaign bodes well for the future leadership of the Commonwealth.
Connecting Parliamentarians through CHOGM
It is only a matter of weeks for any new Parliamentarian in the UK Parliament, before the CPA UK branch introduce themselves to you and seek to involve you in their busy programme of events. I was heartened at how often Commonwealth colleagues were in London and how much they told me they saw the UK as the ‘Mother of Parliaments.’ So it was as a guest of CPA UK that I took part in the Commonwealth Women’s Forum which was held for first time at CHOGM 2015. Although there were a few fellow Parliamentarians who were there and the whole of CHOGM operationally was being held together by the indomitable Phyllis Muscat, I did wonder whether there was a need to specifically bring together female Parliamentarians alongside or as part of the Women’s Forum. There is much we can learn from each other and despite a number of busy networks, there is more to be done to connect Parliamentarians into the CHOGM Forums.
Most of the CPA UK events I have attended have been bi-lateral and I do hope the new, energetic CPA Secretary- General will look to bring Parliamentarians together when the UK hosts the next CHOGM in early 2018. As one of the distinctive characteristics of the Commonwealth is that the members are all democracies, this would surely be useful.
From civil society to business From the energy of the Women’s’ Forum, I then made my way as a delegate at the revitalised Commonwealth Business Forum under the leadership of the new Commonwealth Business and Enterprise Forum. This is
run by another UK Parliament colleague, Lord Marland and the first session was packed with over 1,000 delegates. This had a completely different feel to the other forum, with greater participation of Heads of State on the platform over the three days and many businesses and organisations in the Exhibition Space. The specialised workshops that followed the opening session were also well attended. For a human rights initiative like CIFoRB which forms part of the background for the peace and rule of law that business needs to prosper, this was a great opportunity to see how much could be understood of the importance of connecting CIFoRB with key business leaders.
Looking forward to the next CHOGM
It was sad to learn that the devastation in Vanuatu from the hurricane will mean that CHOGM will not be held there in 2017 after seeing how much profile hosting CHOGM can give to a nation. So with the UK hosting CHOGM in 2018, it will be an opportunity for CIFoRB to seize the momentum and ensure wide ranging discussions on religious freedom are given the appropriate platform and that leaders in faith, business, society and politicians all contribute. The UK will be able to carry on the momentum from Malta especially for the Business and Women’s Fora and as the UK Government has begun a radical programme of devolution to local regions, I hope there is stiff competition to be the host city for CHOGM 2018.
For more information on the Commonwealth Initiative on Freedom of Religion or Belief visit
www.ciforb.org
The Parliamentarian | 2016: Issue One | 67
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