|
Dr. Andrew Galea Debono LLD MA (Human Rights) works for the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), an international human rights NGO based in India. For more information on CHRI, visit: www.humanrightsinitiative.org. CHRI facilitates a civil society network called the Commonwealth Human Rights Network and recently published a handbook about the Commonwealth from a human rights perspective. For more information, email: andrewgd@humanrightsinitiative.org. As the Commonwealth Games bring together people from 71 countries, many are left wondering what the excuse for this latest sportive event is.
Considering that an estimated one billion TV viewers around the world watched the opening of the Games, it is obvious that there is widespread interest - but what were people tuned in to watch? Was it the flying trams and ducks? Was it the Queen and her Royal consorts – instilling hope for some new scandal to erupt and fuel the latest gossip? Perhaps they were hoping for Prince Harry to turn up dressed as a Nazi or smoking a joint? Or was it the Games themselves, which - despite presenting a line up of excellent athletes - are not exactly a showcase of the best of the best in the world? Many Australians may consider the Commonwealth as nothing more than a colonial relic - or worse a neo-colonial organisation. But if so, why would the under-whelming Games of an outdated union attract so much international interest? Could it be that there is more to the Commonwealth than catches the eye? Australians may well flinch at the link with the British Royal Family – a stark reminder of Australia’s colonial past and apparent inability to break its ties with the past. The Queen may be the head of the Commonwealth, just as she remains the head of state of Australia, but most Commonwealth countries have long severed their links with her and the monarchy. Perhaps Australia has a thing or two to learn from them. These Games are not only an occasion to bring together participants in a spirit of competition but are also an excuse to revisit the Commonwealth and learn from the lively and diverse union of countries – ranging from lessons on dumping the Queen to lessons on strengthening the principles of democracy and human rights which are so fundamental to the Commonwealth. It is not just through small gestures of humanity at the Games themselves that the Commonwealth can make a difference – the Commonwealth is making a difference on a daily basis and can be encouraged to do more. Despite its many flaws, the Commonwealth is now viewed by many countries as a forum for discussion, particularly with many potential benefits for developing and small countries. The large developed countries that are sometimes accused of pulling all the strings are certainly less likely to benefit from this union than the developing members. The Commonwealth for instance enables small states to attend United Nations meetings by providing funding to the UN Office for Small States. The Commonwealth also helps to develop economic policies for the benefit of its poorest and smallest members. Commonwealth Expert Groups and focused technical support are provided for member countries striving to achieve democratic reforms. The celebration of sports competition in Melbourne should not make us forget that, all around the Commonwealth, millions of people are struggling in a more desperate competition: that of life and death, and the struggle for freedom and democracy. While athletes from around the Commonwealth have gathered together to strive to achieve excellence, so should civil society from around the Commonwealth be encouraged to unite to achieve excellence in the field of human rights – with a spirit of collaboration replacing the healthy spirit of competition of sports. Commonwealth civil society can bring about positive change, despite limited resources that hinder their chances to meet together in the same spectacular fashion as our athletes do. The last Commonwealth Human Rights Forum in November 2005 brought together 50 participants from 15 countries – with many unable to attend due to visa problems and lack of funding. The athletes of the Commonwealth Games were certainly spared the hurdles that members of civil society had to face to get together. Hopefully, civil society will face fewer hurdles to attend their next major conference next year in Uganda just before the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). While the public and media cheer on their athletes, they should also spare some cheer, support and encouragement for human rights workers in their everyday work. Governments too should provide the necessary support just as they provide for athletes. Democracy and human rights should be high up on everybody’s list of priorities. After all, victory in a sports competition brings temporary joy to a few - while victory for democracy and human rights is a victory for everybody. This article submitted by Swati Kapoor, Media and Communications Unit - CHRI. Visit http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/ for more info. |
Tibetan's Voice Of Struggle
