The Eminent Persons Group (EPG) of the Commonwealth has made several recommendations on ways to ensure that the interests of smaller countries are addressed at major forums, such as the Group of Twenty (G20) summit.
Sir Ronald Sanders
EPG member Sir Ronald Sanders said the group has proposed the establishment of advocacy groups made up of ministerial representatives from rich and poor Commonwealth countries.
The rich countries will, of course, include the five Commonwealth member states which are G20 states.
“Those countries, we hope, would advance the cause of smaller countries who are not on the table,” Sir Ronald pointed out.
The group, established to guide a reform of the Commonwealth, is also recommending that G20 nations invite small countries to their summit, placing them in a better position to represent their own interests.
According to Sanders, the EPG is also hopeful that the Commonwealth secretary general himself could play an active role in the G20 meetings by presenting arguments for countries that are unrepresented.
G20 must regard itself as trustees for the world
“The way in which we see it, the G20 must regard itself as trustees for the world, and not just representatives of themselves. As trustees for the world, they must recognise that they have a responsibility to that majority of people who are not represented at those meetings but who have a big stake in the world, if not a bigger one,” the diplomat said.
The G-20 finance ministers and central bank governors’ group was established in 1999 to bring together systemically important industrialised and developing economies to discuss key issues in the global economy.
The G20 nations account for 85 per cent of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP). But, non-G-20 states, 85 per cent of the world’s countries, are excluded from their discussions. This point was made by many, including the secretaries general of the United Nations and the Commonwealth.
The G-20 member nations include Argentina, United States, Japan, India, Brazil and United Kingdom.
A relevant Commonwealth
Sir Ronald made these comments as the EPG completed its report for submission to the Commonwealth heads of government in Perth, Australia, at the Commonwealth People’s Forum (CPF) which will take place from October 25 to 27. The heads had agreed at their last meeting that the organisations needed to be reformed to be relevant and effective.
According to Sir Ronald, the inaction of the Commonwealth as issues it holds dear, including human rights, are violated by members has come in for much criticism.
He said countries have to live up to a commitments they made with other countries, and if found in breach, they could be penalised. He stated that it is more than sanctions, however; the aim is to have the situation addressed.
“That country has to expect its peers to point out violations… that’s not an infringement of (its) sovereignty; that’s merely a case by which the things that you said you stand for in association with 53 other countries are being addressed,” the EPG member explained.
As such, the EPG has recommended the appointment of a Commissioner of Democracy and Rule of Law, who will inquire into human rights violations and provide the information to the Commonwealth Machinery — the Ministerial Action Group.
Currently, the action group functions only in the case of an unconstitutional overthrow of a government. But its credibility is being threatened, since the values of the Commonwealth are wider and span peace, democracy, the rule of law, human rights, gender equality, and economic development.
As Sir Ronald noted, this mechanism has failed to act on early signs of serious or persistent violations of the Commonwealth code. He believes that there are serious violations of human rights in many member countries, and these that are not being dealt with at the level of the Commonwealth. He pointed to the rights of minority groups such as homosexuals.
In Guyana, there are no laws that support homosexuals, although such are being strongly advocated by gay rights activists. This country came in for criticism from the international community, and the government insisted that any such laws will have to be enforced through consultation with Guyanese, who are mostly conservative. Officials added that the country will not be pressured by the international community.
Sanders believes that with these recommendations, the Commonwealth is well poised to regain its relevant role in the global arena. He is hopeful that heads take the recommendations and arguments as set out in the report as being best to rejuvenate a seemingly dormant organisation.
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