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CONFIDENTIAL

DSR 11C

were already generally agreed on what was embraced by

'human rights'. Gambia noted that its original

proposal has been substantially diluted and felt that

the Working Party's recommendations could therefore

be adopted immediately.

8.

The communique (See Annex D):

(i)

requested the Secretary-General to consult

further with member governments on 'an agreed

definition of human rights within the

Commonwealth context' before establishing the

Special Unit (Subject to satisfactory funding

arrangements); and

ii) remitted for consideration at the next

meeting of Commonwealth Law Ministers the more

controversial proposal relating to the protection

and maintenance of human rights (the Advisory

Committee)

Comment: this was patently a device

for getting rid of what was seen by many as a

wholly unpalatable proposal.

Post-1981 CHGM developments

g.

The Secretary-General duly wrote to governments

at the beginning of 1982 (Annex E) and we replied

(Annex F).

CONFIDENTIAL

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