The Commonwealth must have strong values, David Cameron says |
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David
Cameron has threatened to withhold UK aid from countries that do not reform
legislation banning homosexuality.
The UK
prime minister said he raised the issue with some of the states involved at the
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Australia.
Human
rights reform in the Commonwealth was one issue that leaders failed to reach
agreement on at the summit.
Mr Cameron
says those receiving UK aid should "adhere to proper human rights".
Ending the
bans on homosexuality was one of the recommendations of an internal report into
the future relevance of the Commonwealth.
British
empire
Mr Cameron
told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show that "British aid should have more strings
attached".
But he
conceded that countries could not change immediately, and cautioned that it
would be a "journey".
"This
is an issue where we are pushing for movement, we are prepared to put some
money behind what we believe. But I'm afraid that you can't expect countries to
change overnight.
"Britain
is one of the premier aid givers in the world. We want to see countries that
receive our aid adhering to proper human rights.
"We
are saying that is one of the things that determines our aid policy, and there
have been particularly bad examples where we have taken action."
Mr Cameron
said he had spoken with "a number of African countries" and that more
pressure had been applied by Foreign Secretary William Hague, who deputised for
him during parts of the summit.
Some 41
nations within the 54-member Commonwealth have laws banning homosexuality. Many
of these laws are a legacy of British Empire laws.
The
discussion in the Ugandan parliament of an anti-homosexuality bill in 2009
sparked particular controversy, and earlier this year Ugandan gay rights
campaigner David Kato was beaten to death in a suspected hate crime.
Nigeria's
Senate is currently discussing a bill banning same-sex marriage, that includes
penalties for anyone witnessing or aiding a same-sex marriage.
Appointing
a human rights commissioner to address this and other human rights issues was
one of the 100-plus recommendations of the internal report, by the Commonwealth
Eminent Persons Group, which includes former UK foreign secretary Sir Malcolm
Rifkind.
However,
objections from a number of countries blocked adoption of the recommendation,
according to Australia's prime minister Julia Gillard, speaking at the end of
the three-day summit in Western Australia.
Besides the
homosexuality rights issue, Sri Lanka's human rights conduct also came under
scrutiny at the summit. The country will host the next head of government's
meeting in two years' time.
Sri Lanka's
army has been accused of war crimes during the civil war with the Tamil Tigers.
Canadian
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said he will boycott the 2013 summit unless
there are major reforms in the country.
Succession
question
In earlier
comments, Mr Cameron said there had to be a "proper, independent exercise
to look into the whole issue of what happened, and whether there were war
crimes, and who is responsible" in Sri Lanka.
BBC
correspondent Nicholas Witchell said the summit had been seen as a
"watershed" for the organisation as it "struggles to demonstrate
its relevance, particularly on human rights".
Though the
summit agreed to draw up a written charter and strengthen its ministerial
action group, our correspondent said the outcome will be viewed by many
"as a disappointing one and an opportunity missed".
Two other
developments came from the summit - a reform of royal succession and action on
polio.
It was
agreed that sons and daughters of any future UK monarch would have equal right
to the throne. They will also be allowed to marry Roman Catholics without
giving up a claim to the throne.
The move was
agreed by the 15 Commonwealth realms where the monarch is head of state.
And Mr
Cameron joined the leaders of Canada, Australia and Nigeria, in committing tens
of millions of pounds towards eradicating polio in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan
and Nigeria.
The
campaign will be supported financially by Microsoft magnate Bill Gates.
About the Challenges of Being a Gay Man – Oct 23, 2010 (Saint Germain channelled by Alexandra Mahlimay and Dan Bennack) - “You see, your Soul and Creator are not concerned with any perspective you have that contradicts the reality of your Divinity – whether this be your gender, your sexual preference, your nationality – or your race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, or anything else.”
"The Akashic System" – Jul 17, 2011 (Kryon channelled by Lee Carroll) - (Subjects: Religion, The Humanization of God, Benevolent Design, DNA, Akashic Circle, (Old) Souls, Gaia, Indigenous People, Talents, Reincarnation, Genders, Gender Switches, In “between” Gender Change, Gender Confusion, Shift of Human Consciousness, Global Unity,..... etc.) - (Text version) New !
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