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CONFIDENTIAL
annex C
III.
11.
Protection and Maintenance of Human Rights within
the Commonwealth
So far as the protection and maintenance of human rights
within the Commonwealth is concerned, we proceeded from the
recognition that the Meetings of Heads of Government are them-
selves the ultimate authority for joint action on human rights
in the Commonwealth.
12.
It must be recognised, however, that Meetings of Heads
of Government take place only once every two years and in the
intervening period the Commonwealth association is without any
effective formal machinery to assist the process of protection
of human rights within the Commonwealth. Although we agreed
that initially activity should be directed to the promotion of
human rights, nevertheless with a view to filling this gap, as
well as assisting Heads of Government in this difficult but
most important task, we recommend the establishment of machinery
within the Commonwealth which could be called upon to assist
Governments as a particular situation warrants.
13.
Having considered all aspects of the machinery
envisaged in the Gambian Memorandum and having taken account
of the views expressed by other Governments, we came to the
conclusion that the objective of that Memorandum would best be
met if the machinery were flexible, conciliatory rather than accusatory, and respected the special consensual tradition of the Commonwealth. The overall objective would be, whilst
respecting the sovereignty of Commonwealth Governments, to.
offer counsel and guidance, and to recommend in a spirit of
conciliation remedial action to the Governments concerned in
resolving problems and achieving effective implementation of their human rights obligations under global and regional
instruments.
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