| In a world of six billion people the odds of many going unheard by the few that govern are high. There are those however who feel that this is unacceptable and so they work to ensure that it doesn’t happen.Sir Ronald Sanders, distinguished diplomat and member of the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group expressed this as he addressed the Caribbean Regional Civil Society Consultation yesterday at the Grand Coastal Inn,Kyle Quincey Red Wings Jersey, Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara.He pointed to the Commonwealth as a fountain of diversity, representative of at least 2.4 billion members of the global community.Mr. Sanders described the Commonwealth as a “network of networks” saying of the member nations, “They span every continent in the world and share membership in diverse organisations such as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the European Union, the African Union, the Organisation of American States, the Association of South East Asian Nations, the Caribbean Community, and the United Nations.”He went further to point out that the Commonwealth – a voluntary association of 54 countries from every continent of the world, and now 62 years old, exists in days shaped by forces such as climate change, terrorism and economic upheaval. It is therefore incumbent on the community to reform itself to cope with these global challenges.Sir Ronald called the continued existence of the Commonwealth “a gift – one that should be nurtured and enhanced.” And he noted that the community’s drive to remain an important player in the shaping of global policies led to the formation of the Eminent Persons Group which was needed to not only propose solutions for handling the problems faced by member nations but issues confronting mankind as a whole. Over the years, doubts have arisen over the Commonwealth’s ability to effect change among member states much less the global community. Particular emphasis was put on the fact that while the Commonwealth is “the only multilateral organisation with machinery to oversee compliance with its declared values, that machinery – the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) – has acted only when there has been an unconstitutional overthrow of governments” according to Mr.Sanders.He noted, however, that over the last 25 years the Commonwealth, through the EPG,Reggie Sanders Reds Jersey, has made some headway in changing the tides, starting with their first report on apartheid in South Africa which may have been the first stones in the tumble that would eventually see Nelson Mandela freed from captivity and history made thereafter as all the walls of apartheid fell.The present EPG is called upon to present ideas that are not only relevant to the changing world but are “visionary as well as practical; ambitious as well as achievable; standard-setting as well as opportunity creating.”Some of the proposals the EPG has put on the table after four meetings and consultations with over 300 organisations are the creation of a Commonwealth Charter,North Carolina Tar Heels Jerseys, the possible appointment of Commissioner for Democracy and the Rule of Law as well as the Commonwealth taking a more active position in calling for and effecting reforms of the International Financial Architecture to make greater room for small countries in decision and policy making.The proposed Commonwealth Charter is expected to “express an ethos of Commonwealth Community reflecting civil and political norms, and commits member countries to fundamental rights and freedoms,T. J. Watt Jersey, values and principles as contained in the many declarations of values made by Heads of Government.” But the EPG feels that such a charter should be chosen by the majority and that its articles should comprise of the suggestions placed by the very same majority.It was here that Sir Ronald emphasized the key role that Civil Societies have to play in the creation of such a charter, is to not only bring the choice for its existence to the people in their respective nations, but to give them the ability to contribute to its very structure.As he put it, “A Commonwealth Charter, devised by the people of the Commonwealth, would allow them to set the overarching values, rights and principles by which their lives are governed.”The recommendation for an extension of the role of the Commonwealth in reforming the International Financial Architecture looks particularly at the IMF and the World Bank where according to Sir Ronald, “small countries have no place at the table, and no voice in the chorus of global decision-makers, including the G20.”He said, “The EPG is recommending a more robust role for the Commonwealth as a whole – not only governments, but civil society organisations such as yours, to advocate the cause of debt relief for these small and vulnerable countries.”Pointing out the increasing vulnerability of the small states to forces such as Climate Change and Global Warming, Sir Ronald noted that “Commonwealth countries are in a unique position to advocate for the global community to put in place effective machinery for mitigation and disaster preparedness and recovery for small countries.”He said of the Commonwealth’s network of almost 90 professional and other civil society organisations that there are already structured meetings which should continue but that there could be better cooperation between governmental and non-governmental actors.Mr. Sanders noted that the engagements between civil society organisations and Heads of Governments “should be a regular and carefully planned part of the calendar of Commonwealth events; should take place in the years between Heads of Government meetings; and should be specific encounters between Commonwealth Foreign Ministers and representatives of NGOs and professional organisations.”“We believe that the joint recommendations reached by these meetings should be fully publicised and submitted to the next Heads of Government meeting for consideration and, if agreed, endorsed for implementation by such bodies as the Heads designate. Such bodies should include the NGOs and professional groups most qualified to carry out the tasks.”“Taking a leaf from the private sector where companies deploy integration, synergy or relationship managers when mergers take place, the EPG has determined that the work of the Civil Society Liaison unit in the Commonwealth Secretariat should be re-focussed on leveraging the many Commonwealth organisations into a cohesive and impactful whole,Mousa Dembele Jersey UK, and the more effective linking-up of these organisations with the Secretariat’s work programme.”Sir Ronald closed his address with the expression of the EPG’s position that “if our proposals find favour with governments, the Commonwealth will matter to its own 2.4 billion people, and, will again,Marc-Andre Ter Stegen Jersey, be an example to the world.”The Caribbean Regional Civil Society Consultation will last for two days as the groups debate policy concerns relating to governance, rights and a host of other issues of special relevance to the region. |
