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David Cameron human rights plea at Commonwealth meeting | David Cameron human rights plea at Commonwealth meeting |
(about 2 hours later) | |
David Cameron has pressed for progress on a range of human rights issues during the Commonwealth summit. | David Cameron has pressed for progress on a range of human rights issues during the Commonwealth summit. |
Mr Cameron told the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) in Australia that to stay relevant it must work harder to uphold basic values. | Mr Cameron told the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) in Australia that to stay relevant it must work harder to uphold basic values. |
The Chogm leaders agreed on Saturday to step up efforts to wipe out polio from the four countries where it is endemic. | |
And the human rights record of the Sri Lankan government came under scrutiny. It will hold Chogm in two years' time. | |
The Eminent Persons Group, which includes former UK foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind, has examined the challenges facing the Commonwealth, and made more than 100 recommendations. | |
The suggestions were proposed as ways to ensure that the organisation remains relevant in 21st Century global affairs. | The suggestions were proposed as ways to ensure that the organisation remains relevant in 21st Century global affairs. |
Mr Cameron has said he expects good progress to be made on developing a "charter" of rights and freedoms. | |
Other recommendations, which are proving more problematic, are the appointment of a independent commissioner for the rule of law and human rights and a call for all member states to repeal laws banning homosexuality. | Other recommendations, which are proving more problematic, are the appointment of a independent commissioner for the rule of law and human rights and a call for all member states to repeal laws banning homosexuality. |
'Great network' | 'Great network' |
The summit in Perth is the first Chogm meeting Mr Cameron has attended since entering Downing Street. | The summit in Perth is the first Chogm meeting Mr Cameron has attended since entering Downing Street. |
The prime minister said: "The Commonwealth is a great organisation, a third of the world's population, 54 countries across six continents, a really great network, but it is a network that must have strong values. | The prime minister said: "The Commonwealth is a great organisation, a third of the world's population, 54 countries across six continents, a really great network, but it is a network that must have strong values. |
"The Eminent Persons Group report will strengthen those values particularly by having a charter setting out the rights, the freedoms, the democracy that we all believe in, and I think that is important." | "The Eminent Persons Group report will strengthen those values particularly by having a charter setting out the rights, the freedoms, the democracy that we all believe in, and I think that is important." |
Mr Cameron added that he thought "good progress" would be made in Perth. | Mr Cameron added that he thought "good progress" would be made in Perth. |
Sri Lanka | |
Sri Lanka's army has been accused of war crimes during the civil war with the Tamil Tigers. | |
Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper has said he will boycott the 2013 summit unless there are major reforms in the country. | |
When asked about Sri Lanka, Mr Cameron said there had to be a "proper, independent exercise to look into the whole issue of what happened, and whether there were war crimes, and who is responsible". | When asked about Sri Lanka, Mr Cameron said there had to be a "proper, independent exercise to look into the whole issue of what happened, and whether there were war crimes, and who is responsible". |
Mr Cameron also joined the leaders of Canada, Australia and Nigeria, in committing tens of millions of pounds towards eradicating polio in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. | |
The campaign will be supported financially by Microsoft magnate Bill Gates. | |
Australia's prime minister, Julia Gillard, said: "While polio remains anywhere in the world, it is a threat to everyone. | |
"We're here today to demonstrate our commitment to ending the fight against polio, that is, ending polio for all time." |