Eminent Persons Group holds final meeting in London

“We came to this group as supporters of the Commonwealth; we are even more convinced of the Commonwealth’s potential as an influence for human advancement within its member states and in the wider global society”. This statement was made by the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group at the end of its fifth and final meeting from 25 to 27 July in London.

The group met to finalise its report to Commonwealth Heads of Government after receiving over one hundred responses to a statement issued in May 2011 in which it indicated the direction of its report.

“We welcomed the responses we received. They overwhelmingly supported the positions we have been discussing on democracy, development and human rights.”

The group said it gave careful consideration to each of the responses and “was greatly impressed by the depth of commitment to the Commonwealth and the strength of interest in the association continuing to be vibrant and significant”.

The group, in considering areas for reform and implementation, also considered requirements that the Commonwealth Secretariat will also need to address, in order to facilitate delivery of the Commonwealth’s goals.

The group’s report will be finalised over the next 14 days and will be sent to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, for transmittal to Commonwealth Heads of Government ahead of their meeting in Perth, Australia, from 28 to 30 October 2011.

Chairman of the group, Tun Abdullah Badawi, former Prime Minister of Malaysia, said: “We want to ensure the Commonwealth is both a champion of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental human rights, and at the same time, a champion of development. Democracy and development go hand-in-hand and are mutually reinforcing, and they need to be advanced together to achieve the greatest beneficial impact.”

Key Links:

• Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group webpage
• CHOGM 2011