Britain's Queen Elizabeth backs Commonwealth human-rights charter
Queen Elizabeth to sign a charter calling for an end to discrimination in the 54 Commonwealth nations
Britain's Queen Elizabeth was yesterday to sign a charter calling for an end to discrimination in the 54 Commonwealth nations, Buckingham Palace said.
The monarch, 86, will miss the service at Westminster Abbey, which her 91-year-old husband Prince Philip will attend.But the queen will attend an evening reception marking Commonwealth Day, where she was to authorise the document.
"We are implacably opposed to all forms of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, colour, creed, political belief or other grounds," it reads.
We are implacably opposed to all forms of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, colour, creed, political belief or other grounds
All the Commonwealth nations adopted the 16-point charter in December to protect democracy, the rule of law, international security and free speech.
"At a Commonwealth event on Monday, the queen will sign a charter agreed upon by the 54 members of the Commonwealth," a palace spokesman said. "The queen, as in all matters, is apolitical, but is signing the document in her capacity as head of the Commonwealth."
Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell praised the accord.
"By signing the new Commonwealth Charter, with its rejection of all discrimination, the queen is implicitly endorsing gay human rights," he said. "Although the charter does not include an explicit commitment … the clause rejecting discrimination based on 'other grounds' implicitly includes a rejection of homophobic discrimination."