The group met in Malta ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government
Meeting to discuss current human rights challenges in the Commonwealth.
“National human rights institutions have a vital role to play, as
independent national authorities on human rights, in promoting public
awareness about human rights and protecting citizens’ rights,” said
Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Josephine Ojiambo at the meeting.
National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) are independent public
bodies set up to promote and protect human rights in their respective
countries. The Commonwealth brings NHRIs together to share experiences
and discuss common solutions to human rights issues.
During the meeting, NHRIs presented their activities to end child, early and forced marriage building on the Kigali Declarationadopted
earlier this year. They also addressed safeguarding freedom of
expression, association and assembly and protecting the rights of
migrants.
They pledged to collaborate with other independent bodies, such as
ombudsman election commissions and police complaints commissions to
strengthen governance structures.
Outgoing Chair of the Commonwealth Forum of National Human Rights
Institutions Tan Sri Hasmy Agam said: “The work of a NHRI is never
smooth sailing. We are frequently faced with various challenges and
obstacles. Therefore, the camaraderie among member institutions is
important especially in difficult and challenging times. Support and
encouragement from fellow NHRIs can go a long way and has proven to be
very meaningful.”
The outcome statement calls on leaders to: “Strengthen human rights
protection and promotion in the Commonwealth in compliance with their
obligations under international human rights treaties and mechanisms.”
In relation to freedom of expression, NHRIs, “Noted with concern the
narrowing of civil society space in the Commonwealth”. They reaffirmed
that “freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of
association are fundamental rights that form the basis of the full
enjoyment of all other rights”.
On the issue of migration, they noted that migrants face perilous
journeys and discrimination on arrival in destination countries and
urged Commonwealth states to ensure their rights are upheld.
The group also adopted the St Julian Declaration on Climate Justice,
which will be taken forward at the Paris Climate Conference (COP21) in
December where the global community will reach a new agreement on
climate change.
Acknowledging climate change is a global threat to human rights that
requires global cooperation, the declaration underscores the link
between development, climate change and human rights as core to the very
notion of sustainable development. It calls for active and free
participation of affected populations, especially the most marginalised,
in climate change negotiations and emphasises the need for explicit
reference to human rights law and climate justice principles in the new
global climate agreement.
NHRIs commit, in the declaration, to develop a work programme on
climate justice in order to monitor and evaluate efforts made to tackle
climate change. They also pledge to develop tools, such as impact
assessment and participatory indicators, to enable progress towards
climate justice.