In less than three weeks time, the Eminent Person’s Group - tasked with exploring options for Commonwealth reform - are due to present their recommendations to Commonwealth leaders meeting in Perth, Australia. Strengthening the role of the Commonwealth in protecting and promoting human rights is at the very heart of their recommendations. In recent years, whilst Commonwealth civil society has campaigned strongly on a number of human rights issues, the institutional Commonwealth has been reluctant to speak out. But members of the Eminent Persons Group have stated that the Commonwealth can not stay silent and called for it to exert moral authority. In the run up to CHOGM 2011, this important debate will explore what more the Commonwealth could do to act on key human rights issues affecting its people, including LGBT rights, the death penalty and forced marriage.

This is a panel event and speakers will include:

Simon Fanshawe Chair: Broadcaster, writer and founder of Stonewall

Lynne Featherstone MP: Parliamentary under secretary of state for equalities

Godwyns Onwuchekewa: Co-ordinator, Justice for Gay Africans

Dr Purna Sen: Director of LSE Programme for African Leadership and former Head of Human Rights at The Commonwealth Secretariat

Saul Lehrfreund MBE: Co-founder and joint Executive Directors of The Death Penalty Project.

This event is free to attend.