Oppose All Torture, Commonwealth Secretary-General Urges
15 December 2005
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| Commonwealth Secretary-General with the High Commissioner of Ghana at the launch of the Manual on Human Rights Training for Police in Commonwealth West African Countries |
"Torture is a violation of human rights, a violation of international law, and a violation of everything for which the Commonwealth stands," he said.
The Secretary-General stated the Commonwealth's 53 member countries have a common commitment to human rights, including its fundamental opposition to torture, enshrined in its founding 1971 Singapore Declaration and the 1991 Harare Declaration. He pointed out that the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting that was held in Malta on 25-27 November 2005 had reaffirmed their unequivocal commitment to human rights and also welcomed the establishment of a new Human Rights Council in the United Nations.
"We must remember and champion the rights of any person facing persecution, torture and other human rights abuses. We must acknowledge, too, that inexcusable human rights abuses continue to occur and we must use every resource available to bring such practices to an end," said Mr McKinnon.
He stated that the minimum, acceptable standards to attain any of the Commonwealth's goals in basic human rights must be steadily raised. He cited the prohibition on state torture, which has crystallised into international law because of consistent denouncement of it by states the world over.
The Secretary-General called on those Commonwealth countries that have yet to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which came into force almost 30 years ago, along with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to do so. He stressed that these covenants serve as the cornerstones of international human rights law.
"It is possible to see a day where ratifying those two international conventions becomes a human rights yardstick for becoming a full Commonwealth member," said Mr McKinnon.
The Secretary-General's comments followed the launching of the 'Manual on Human Rights Training for Police in Commonwealth West African Countries' on 8 December 2005. At the event held at Marlborough House, the headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, he emphasised human rights must be a fundamental cornerstone for strong and open societies. He also pointed out that active, entrepreneurial, energetic and self-starting societies are stifled in the absence of rights-based protections to freedom of expression and opinion. Mr McKinnon said respect for civil and political rights, and the fulfilment of basic economic and social rights, is fundamental to the Commonwealth, along with democracy, development and respect for the rule of law.
"Human rights are a way of life, not a privilege. Respect for human rights enables meaningful participation both in democratic processes and in national economic development. Peace and progress, as well as matters of principle, are the dividend," stated the Secretary-General.
He said that the training manual is a fresh contribution to achieving this aim. It was produced with the support of senior police officers from Cameroon, The Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
CNIS - Commonwealth News and Information Service Issue 265, 14 December 2005
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