Some Progress on LGBT Rights at Commonwealth Meeting

Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma has backed LGBT rights at the start of the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) meeting in Perth, Australia this week.

The Commonwealth has been the focus of worldwide attention by activists for the issue of discrimination against LGBT people to be discussed for the first time at CHOGM this year. Much of the lobbying has focused on Sharma.

Speaking to an audience of several hundred at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth People’s Forum, he said the Commonwealth was about democracy, development and diversity, pointing to the 2009 affirmation of the Commonwealth values and principles.

“This includes a clear commitment to tolerance, respect and understanding,” he said.

“This means we embrace difference, and that includes sexual identity. Discrimination and criminalisation on the grounds of sexual orientation is opposed to our values and and I have had occasion to refer to this in the context of our law-related conferences.”

Human rights activist Peter Tatchell said with this statement that Sharma has “shown strong leadership.”

“His speech is a tacit rebuke to the more than 40 Commonwealth member states that continue to criminalise homosexuality, with penalties ranging up to life imprisonment,” Tatchell said. “They comprise more than half the countries in the world that treat same-sex relations as a serious criminal offence.”

Following the speech, the campaign group all out launched a campaign backing Sharma and urging the heads of government to discuss LGBT rights at the weekend.

Following intense lobbying, the meeting’s host, Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has said that he will call for an end to the laws criminalizing homosexuality at CHOGM. The Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird has also said he will support the call.

The British Foreign Minister William Hague said at the forum on October 27:

“The UK would like to see the Commonwealth do more to promote the rights of its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens. It is wrong in our view that these groups continue to suffer persecution, violence and discrimination within the Commonwealth and that many members still have laws criminalizing homosexuality. A Commonwealth that lives up to its values is one where all its citizens are free to live their lives in a safe and just society.”

However, a report said that India will oppose anything which involves the imposition of penalties for Commonwealth nations that discriminate against gay people.

Commonwealth advisory body, the Eminent Persons Group (EPG), which includes the openly gay retired Australian High Court judge Michael Kirby, has recommended that Commonwealth countries repeal legislation criminalizing homosexuality on the grounds that anti-gay laws are hampering efforts to combat the spread of HIV.

Reports say that India is expected to block a push by Australia, Canada and the UK to set up a Commonwealth human rights and rule-of-law watchdog as recommended by the EPG, arguing that it goes beyond the mandate of the 54-nation group. The proposed leader of the watchdog was reported to be Kirby.

The Times of India reported that India’s opposition was based on concerns such a group would only duplicate the role of the UN Human Rights Council.

According to The Australian newspaper, India’s objections are rooted in its concern that a periodic review of its record on human rights by the UN next year will push for the caste system to be declared racist and because it is protecting its neighbor, Sri Lanka, from human rights scrutiny.

These are the four proposals that many LGBTI campaigners want to see on the CHOGM agenda and that they want all Commonwealth member states to adopt:

• Decriminalization of homosexuality
• Laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
• The enforcement of legislation against threats and violence, to protect LGBTI people from hate crimes
• Consultation and dialogue with LGBTI organizations

Related stories:

Will the Commonwealth Finally Discuss Homosexuality?

Next Week’s Commonwealth Summit ‘Our Best Chance Ever for LGBTI Rights’

Trust Aims to Fight Homophobia in the Commonwealth