Hosting CPC, a signal honour for Sri Lanka - Secretary General
Kamalesh Sharma
Text of the Keynote Address of
Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma at the Commonwealth
Parliamentary Association Annual Conference held in Colombo on September
11, 2012
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa officially inaugurated the 58th
Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference at the Nelum Pokuna
Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre on Tuesday. The Conference brings
together 850 Parliamentarians and staff from 54 countries. Here,
President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the inauguration ceremony.
Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma, Speaker Chamal
Rajapaksa and Commonwealth Parliament Association’s Executive
Committee Chairman and British MP Sir Alan Haselhurstn, CPA
Secretary General Dr. William F. Shija are also in the picture.
Picture by Sudath Silva |
The CPA is a vital component in the global architecture of the
Commonwealth and an indispensable partner working alongside the
Secretariat in our shared mission of advancing Commonwealth values, with
democracy, development and respect for diversity foremost among them.
Indeed with the CPA having celebrated its 100th anniversary last
year, and the modern Commonwealth itself now being well over 60 years
old, we can truly claim to be travelling companions on a very long
journey.
Parliaments lie at the heart of democracy and are held in uniquely
high esteem by the Commonwealth. And the CPA helps draw together all
that is best from these organs of representative democracy from across
the Commonwealth family.
Wealth of experience
The vast wealth and breadth of experience convened by the CPA never
fails to impress - more than 16,000 members from 170 parliaments in 52
Commonwealth countries; it is a truly phenomenal grouping.
Your members represent national and provincial assemblies, unitary
and federal states, vast states and tiny ones - and the CPA enables them
to connect, interact and deepen understanding of their respective roles
and responsibilities as representatives of the people.
An outstanding feature of the Commonwealth as a community is its
capacity to convene and connect, bringing people and institutions
together to share experience, helping each other for mutual and
collective benefit. This is the essence of the CPA and of the
Commonwealth as a whole; it always has been and always will be.
Her Majesty The Queen, of course, summed it up best when she called
the Commonwealth, “the original worldwide web”!
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International Day of Democracy |
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Commonwealth
Parliamentary Association Chairperson Sir Alan Haselhurst MP
 “The International Day of
Democracy was first marked on September 15, 2008, after the
United Nations invited all member states to join in a
celebration of this ‘universal value based on the freely
expressed will of the people.’ I am particularly pleased that it
falls today, when I am here in Colombo in my capacity as the
Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA)
and a member of the UK Houses of Parliament. I have been in Sri
Lanka this month for the CPA's 2012 annual conference, which has
been an opportunity for Parliamentarians from around the
Commonwealth to share their own experiences of democracy and to
learn from each other.
“The CPA, like the Commonwealth itself, is a value-based network
that exists to promote development and democracy. I believe that
these two principles are inextricable; development cannot occur
against a political backdrop of anything but stable
representative democracy. Improvement of the economy is
necessary but far from sufficient to guarantee improvement in
the quality of life of citizens.
“Each of us in the CPA has a great deal to learn from and share
with his or her colleagues. No country has yet achieved the
perfect model of democratic governance and the
longest-established of Parliaments constantly must seek to
improve its practice and procedure. This week we have had an
opportunity to discuss the essential role of Parliaments in
ensuring that disagreements within countries are resolved in a
positive way that benefits and is accepted by all citizens. It
is a parliament's role to create and monitor equitable
legislative frameworks, to scrutinise government's achievements
and to ensure that the interests of each of their constituents,
from every sector of society, are fairly represented. This key
institution is at the core of democracy; it is the link between
executive and electorate that gives government's actions
legitimacy.
“The four years since the first International Day of Democracy
have seen significant developments around the world. In North
Africa, this year saw the first legitimate elections in several
states. Similarly, here in South Asia, Burma has seen the
election of one of the world's most prominent and
longest-serving democracy campaigners, Aung San Suu Kyi.
Democracy, it seems, remains the most effective means by which a
country can resolve political disagreements, with citizens
empowered to contribute to political debate. This is true, too,
in Sri Lanka, which has now embarked on the long path to
reconciliation following the end of the conflict in 2009. As
this country returns to peace, stability and prosperity, its
long history of democracy will serve it well, allowing all
citizens to engage in the country's future.
“Just as they are fundamental to passing legislation and holding
the executive accountable, Parliaments are also fundamental to
post-conflict reconciliation processes. Part of the immense
value of the CPA lies in the fact that parliamentary colleagues
from South Africa, Northern Ireland, Rwanda and Sierra Leone
can, through this organisation, share their recent experiences
of reconciliation processes. This is not to say that we in the
CPA aim to interfere or to trespass on sovereignty; any
reconciliation process will only succeed if nationally led. But
we are all - as individuals, political parties, parliaments and
nations - stronger when we co-operate and learn from each other.
I believe that many Commonwealth countries can teach invaluable
lessons on achieving reconciliation and that there is a wealth
of support available if desired.
“As a long serving parliamentarian, I am proud to play my part
in ensuring that our shared democratic history continues in the
twenty-first century. Considering the many examples to which we
can point around the world of states where democracy is
flourishing and improving people's lives, on this fifth
International Day of Democracy I believe we have many reasons
for optimism. With hard work and commitment from citizens and
governments, in the UK, in Sri Lanka and around the
Commonwealth, we can look forward to a future of strengthened
governance, greater stability and guaranteed personal and
political freedoms for all.” |
It is this spirit, this benefit, which, I believe, is integral to
what the Commonwealth can do and what it can continue to be in future.
I am also delighted to be in Sri Lanka, a country where civilisation
stretches back to ancient times, a vibrant parliamentary democracy since
independence, a melting pot of religions, ethnicities and culture, a
country that is known for the warmth of its welcome and hospitality.
Special place
Sri Lanka holds a special place as one of only three emerging
sovereign states amongst the small total of eight that in 1949 came
together as signatories of the London Declaration marking the foundation
of the modern Commonwealth. And we are pleased that Sri Lanka will also
host our next Heads of Government Meeting next year. Both this
conference and the Heads’ summit in 2013 offer opportunities for Sri
Lanka to make an important contribution to the Commonwealth and the
world beyond.
This country has seen many years of painful and traumatic civil
conflict. Its overcoming the forces of terrorism is a major achievement.
We believe Sri Lanka recognises that, having won the war, it is now
important to build the peace. We welcome the steps being taken to
implement recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation
Commission, through a National Action Plan.
I have had discussions with the Minister of External Affairs and
others this week on how Sri Lanka is promoting post-conflict
reconciliation and rehabilitation, and am grateful to be received by
President Rajapaksa tomorrow. I hope also to see for myself some of the
important work the Commonwealth has been requested to do, in partnership
with Sri Lanka, to promote youth entrepreneurship in conflict-affected
areas.
Sri Lanka knows that the Commonwealth is a willing and able partner,
with a wealth of experience to share wherever this might be welcome.
Hosting the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference as well as next year’s
CHOGM is a signal honour and trust for Sri Lanka.
Value of Commonwealth Parliaments
Parliaments and parliamentarians embody the culture of democracy in a
country. Legitimacy is derived from the freely expressed will of the
people through national parliaments, state assemblies and local councils
that, in turn, serve the people by holding the executive to account and
by ensuring democracy delivers for all.
We often speak of the globalising world in which we live. This
heightens our awareness that while the standard of living for many is
being raised, too many are still being left behind. The global context
within which the Commonwealth strives for the advancement of all remains
one in which the gap between rich and poor is enormous and, in too many
instances, continues to grow.
‘Democracy’ and ‘development’ were often referred to as the twin
pillars of our work at the Commonwealth Secretariat, with each
inseparably combining with the other as we seek to deliver the benefits
of both for the common good. To these, we now add ‘diversity’, also a
hallmark feature and Commonwealth value – equality for all in our
populations.
This symmetry is important: for stable and sustainable progress to be
achieved, it is necessary for democracy and development and respect for
diversity to be advanced together, never pressing ahead with one to the
detriment of the others. They reinforce each other, sustain each other,
and each person needs them all.
All our Commonwealth Parliaments, and all members of our family of
Commonwealth organisations, must continue to strive in particular to
build positively on the richness and potential of our diversity, and
avoid our differences becoming a source of sterility let alone division.
That is the Commonwealth way, and it is a way of working that can be
challenging but must be nurtured at all times. Our responsibility as
leaders and representatives is to model strength and harmony in
diversity to our own members and to the wider world.
Working together
We have now worked with the CPA for many years on a series of
‘Government and Opposition’ workshops. These aim to foster a more
constructive relationship between governing and opposition parties, one
which is conducive to working together within a democratic framework,
that places harmony, the communal good and inclusive development above
partisan considerations – vital though party loyalties and policy are if
there is to be a genuine democratic choice for the electorate and a
robust public debate.
Our most recent workshop in this series brought together
representatives of governing and opposition parties in East Africa. This
builds upon similar events in Asia, West Africa, the Pacific, Southern
Africa and the Caribbean.
Parliament should be the primary forum where the voice of the people,
especially the poor and marginalised, is heard with absolute clarity.
Confidence amongst the people that parliament truly understands, and is
able to address the needs and interests of the people, is a paramount
guarantee of social peace and stability.
Such confidence can only really be secured if parliamentarians – of
both the majority and minority parties – can show their effectiveness in
leading free and unfettered public debate; in representing the interests
and concerns of their constituents; in holding the government to
account; and in scrutinising, improving, and enacting legislation. This
is the supreme Commonwealth value – the Parliament is where the heart of
democracy beats.
These CPA conferences therefore remain as important as ever –
particularly as we see a growing sense of impatience and heightened
ambition among young people for the opportunity of making a contribution
to shaping the world in which they will live, learn, work and care for
their families.
Two billion people
In a Commonwealth that now encompasses 54 countries, 2 billion people
and a multitude of faiths, races, cultures and traditions it is
remarkable, and a tribute to our methods of working together on a basis
of trust and consensus, that we have found common ground on core values
and principles and continue to cooperate on collective practical action
across such a broad range of issues.
Conference Theme - Ensuring a Relevant Commonwealth for the Future
Your conference theme is “Ensuring a Relevant Commonwealth for the
Future”. This is a topic on which we should constantly reflect, and
indeed over recent months and years it has been assessed and commented
on by a whole range of stakeholders, from citizens at the grass roots
level to an Eminent Persons Group to Heads of Government.
It is not that the Commonwealth is irrelevant. But wide consideration
of this topic, including by this conference, is right and proper because
the challenges facing us in the world today are as immense as they are
broad, and are attended equally by opportunities. It is by evolving,
refining and strengthening the focus of our engagement that we can hope
to succeed in finding solutions and serving our member states.
In the 2009 Affirmation of Commonwealth Values and Principles,
adopted by our Heads of Government, they reiterated their commitment to
democracy as a core value. And they reaffirmed their commitment, I
quote, to:
“… the inalienable right of the individual to participate by means of
free and democratic political processes in shaping the society in which
they live.”
Unquote.
The promotion of democratic values, alongside development and
diversity, thus remains a principal focus of the Commonwealth. It is our
‘USP’, our brand strength, a fount of our continued relevance.
Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group acts as the custodian of
the Commonwealth’s fundamental core political values and, since its
establishment in 1995, it has been addressing situations where serious
or persistent violations of those values have occurred.
As such, CMAG has supported the strengthening of democracy in member
countries and its role has been globally noted. In 2009, Commonwealth
leaders decided they wanted to raise the bar further – a testament to
how seriously we take the promotion and upholding of democracy within
our family. Leaders not only sought to raise the bar of their political
will and commitment, but to back it up with practical action through
strengthening CMAG.
CMAG itself took on this responsibility and produced a report to
Heads for their 2011 meeting in Perth. In the report CMAG set out a
series of proposals for how it could more effectively and practically
operate as the custodian of Commonwealth political values. This was
endorsed by Heads as one of the seminal achievements of that Perth
summit. The array of priority concerns identified by them expanded
beyond a focus largely on the overthrow of a constitutional democratic
government, to now include such concerns as the undermining of the
independence of the judiciary; the postponement of national elections
without constitutional or reasonable justification; a national electoral
process that is seriously flawed; the systematic denial of political
space such as through the detention of political leaders or restriction
on freedom of association and assembly; the suspension of the lawful
functioning of Parliament or other key democratic institutions;
significant restrictions on the media or civil society; and, the
systematic violation of populations of communities.
The Heads also encouraged CMAG to engage more proactively and
positively in partnership with member states.
We therefore now have a CMAG able to respond more effectively to
serious or persistent violations. And already, in these first months
since receiving that enhanced mandate, it is showing innovative ways of
working.
Support for elections, the Commonwealth Electoral Network and
Commonwealth Connects
Proactive partnerships
It is a strong advantage of the Commonwealth to be able to forge
partnerships between member countries, which may be from diverse parts
of the globe but which often, by virtue of the shared experiences, have
a great deal in common when it comes to institutional arrangements and
legal frameworks.
Nowhere is this more valid in our work than in our support for
elections.
We are placing an increased focus on supporting electoral processes
and institutions. Democracy is of course far more than just the holding
of elections, and we still place a great emphasis on our Latimer House
Principles concerning the separation of powers, and supporting all
democratic institutions.
We continue to observe elections and believe this makes a valuable
contribution to the strengthening of the electoral process. At all
times, we have important elections where the Commonwealth is likely to
be called to serve. We also work closely with countries in strengthening
electoral processes between elections. Elections are a key focus, as
they blight nation-building and demoralise citizens when they go wrong.
The quality of a country’s election is, to a large extent, dependent
upon the quality and the independence of its election management body,
and the independence and support given to it. They make the pivotal
difference. Our aim is to ensure that Commonwealth election commissions
are a force for stability and confidence to the citizens, and uphold the
highest standards of electoral efficiency, integrity and credibility.
With this in mind we have established a Commonwealth Electoral
Network, bringing together election management bodies as a mutually
supportive peer group. The Network has been endorsed by Heads of
Government and will be a key tool through which we support democracy in
the Commonwealth. Our ambition is that it will create the ‘gold
standard’ globally – not only in the Commonwealth – of elections in
democratic service to the people.
I had the pleasure to attend the second biennial conference of the
Network, which was held in Canada in June this year after its launch in
Ghana in 2010. We had 60 senior election officials representing 43
election management bodies. Their commitment and camaraderie were
inspiring.
The Network now has a secure online digital workspace, where members
can connect between peers and collaborate in real time to access
information, share experiences, ask questions, and help promote best
practices across the Commonwealth in all areas of election management.
‘Commonwealth Connects’
The Network’s workspace is part of ‘Commonwealth Connects’, the
innovative and contemporary cloud-based pan-Commonwealth digital
platform for interaction, transaction and dynamic sharing of knowledge
across the Commonwealth by member states and communities of practice.
As ‘Commonwealth Connects’ expands and new functions are added it
will be an essential tool in assisting in the broader process of
Commonwealth reform and renewal by providing an effective technology
tool for demonstrating the Commonwealth and its values. It will also
increase public visibility and outreach, enable coherence and
co-operation among Commonwealth agencies, and generate partnerships and
collaboration. Let us take our partnership to a new level, as indeed
that between all parliaments of the Commonwealth.
During my tours of member states, I invariably seek meetings with
Speakers and Leaders of the Opposition of the country’s legislature. The
role of the CPA also invariably comes up for discussion. In the reform
and renewal process now underway, I have made closer partnership with
the Commonwealth family integral to the way we advance in the Scoping
Paper for the new four year Strategic Plan of the Secretariat, which I
shared with member government immediately before coming to Colombo for
this conference. The Paper and way the Secretariat works will be
considered by Commonwealth Foreign Ministers at their meeting later this
month in New York and thereafter the new Strategic Plan will be fleshed
out in detail for adoption by the end of this year.
Eminent Persons Group
The theme of relevance was also very much at the heart of the
deliberations of the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group – or EPG – which
Heads of Government entrusted me in 2009 to convene to examine options
for reform. The EPG submitted its report last year offering 106
recommendations on sharpening the impact, strengthening the networks and
raising the profile of the Commonwealth. Most of those have either
already been adopted or remitted for further consideration. .
Refining and reshaping the work of the Commonwealth for greater
impact is a continuing process. We move forward together adjusting our
focus to the new opportunities that arise for collective engagement and
practical action according to changing contemporary priorities. This
flexibility and responsiveness is what gives the Commonwealth its
enduring relevance.
Common aim
Distinguished parliamentarians, eminent guests, ‘Ensuring a Relevant
Commonwealth for the Future’ is our shared task and common aim. Your
fingers are on the pulse of people at every level in your respective
countries; your position gives you a unique insight into their pressing
concerns and their aspirations. It is by speaking to these, and by
providing promising and practical ways forward that we reinforce a sense
of Commonwealth value, identity and belonging. I feel sure that the
commitment you demonstrate through your presence and participation here
bodes well for the level of engagement and the ideas that will flow from
this conference. It is this collective dynamic involvement that brings
energy and vitality to the Commonwealth.
I thank you once again and I wish this conference well in advancing
the values of the Commonwealth and – most importantly – the aspirations
of the people you represent. |
