2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

Global warming

The summit was dominated by the issue of global warming, as it was held just before the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. The countries agreed a £6bn-a-year climate change fund to promote low-carbon emission development and adaptation in developing countries, to be funded by developed Commonwealth members and France.

The 2009 summit was attended by the President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, who was attempting to rally support in the build-up to the Copenhagen summit. It was seen as an indication of reconciliation between France and the Commonwealth, particularly over the issue of Rwanda's prospective membership of the Commonwealth. The meeting was also attended by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen.

Rwanda

The 2009 CHOGM was the first opportunity for countries to accede to the Commonwealth after the 2007 CHOGM accepted the report by the Committee on Commonwealth Membership, which established the current membership criteria. After the 2007 CHOGM, the Commonwealth sent a team to Rwanda to examine its eligibility, and recommended it be discussed at the 2009 meeting.

Rwanda was admitted despite the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) finding that "the state of governance and human rights in Rwanda does not satisfy Commonwealth standards", and that it "does not therefore qualify for admission". CHRI also commented that: "It does not make sense to admit a state that already does not satisfy Commonwealth standards. This would tarnish the reputation of the Commonwealth and confirm the opinion of many people and civic organisations that the leaders of its governments do not really care for democracy and human rights, and that its periodic, solemn declarations are merely hot air."

In Port of Spain, the Heads of Government agreed to accept Rwanda as a member, making it the 54th member, and the second without a direct constitutional tie to an existing member. Several other countries were expected to submit official applications to join, including Algeria, Madagascar, Sudan, and Yemen, but they were not considered.

CHRI, Human Rights Watch, and Freedom House have all found that the protection of democracy and human rights in Rwanda have declined since the country joined the Commonwealth.

Footnotes

References

1. (30 June 2008). "Trinidad and Tobago launches 2009 CHOGM logo, website". [[Commonwealth Secretariat]].
2. Webster, Philip. (27 November 2009). ["Gordon Brown will not back Sri Lanka's bid to host Commonwealth summit"](http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6934131.ece }}{{dead link). [[The Times]].
3. Chase, Steven. (27 November 2009). "Ottawa opposes Sri Lanka bid to host next Commonwealth summit". [[The Globe and Mail]].
4. (30 November 2009). "Commonwealth 'did itself some good' at summit". BBC News.
5. Cobb, Chris. (27 November 2009). ["Canada, Commonwealth nations to pour billions into climate fund for poorer nations"](https://nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2281148 }}{{dead link). [[National Post]].
6. "Rwanda's application for membership, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative".
7. Zezio-Musoke, David. (5 June 2008). "Rwanda: Country Under Commonwealth Scrutiny". [[The Monitor (Uganda).
8. "Rwanda, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative".
9. "Human Rights Watch, Rwanda country page".
10. "Freedom House, Rwanda country profile".