CPSU News
Report calls for reform of Commonwealth’s promotion of democracy
As Commonwealth Heads of Government prepare for their biennial meeting a report commissioned by the CPSU and Electoral Reform International Services calls for major reform in the way the association promotes democracy.
Democracy is seen as one of the central ‘values’ of the Commonwealth. The main recommendation of the Report, is that “the commitment to democracy promotion should not be just one among a number of Commonwealth objectives (but) . . . the defining characteristic of the association”.
To bring this about the report calls for “visionary leadership” from Commonwealth Heads of Government, who meet in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, from 27 to 29 November 2009.
The expert authors of the report - Chair of the Ghana Electoral Commission and Executive Secretary of the Association of African Election Authorities Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chair of the Pakistan Human Rights Commission Asma Jahangir and British democracy expert Tim Sheehy – say the key obstacle to deepening democracy in the Commonwealth is the failure in many countries to encourage or even countenance open political competition and the abuse of incumbency by ruling parties.
They call for a new and comprehensive Commonwealth statement of democratic principles and practice and set out twelve recommendations for reform in the way the association promotes democracy.
Amartya Sen, who is Thomas W. Lamont University Professor at Harvard University and received the Nobel Prize for Economics in 1998, says in his Foreword:
“The report is important not only for the Commonwealth itself, but also for the world at large, since the Commonwealth’s example and experience can have a significant impact on other countries as well, which have similar problems to overcome”.
Democracy in the Commonwealth is being launched today at a press event in London and at the Commonwealth People’s Forum in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. A press event will also take place in Port of Spain, Trinidad on Thursday 26th November.
Download a free copy of the report here.