Activity on the Commonwealth!
The Commonwealth Charter
includes 16 core values and principles of The Commonwealth. Which of the
Commonwealth values and principles do you hold as most important to you as a leader
and why?
a. Human Right
As
a Leader, it is very important to consider and promote human right. Respecting other’s right brings lot of
benefits to society. Infringement of
other’s right can cause conflict in the community. However, we all have human rights but this comes with limitations –
one of them is to respect other people’s right or the society as a whole. And if the conflict occurs between different people, it will involve a lot of developmental & insecurity issues that will defintely require the government involvement. This will affect, social and economic development.
Another example is violence against women. It is one way to breach human right principles. Consequently, women will be affected physically and psychologically. How can young children survive if their mother was ill or injured, or even death as a result of that infringement of human right?
b. Gender Equality
As
a leader, it should be clear that men and women should share their roles and
responsibilities. Both men and women
should be treated equally under the law.
In most cultures especially in the Pacific, women are not that important
as compared to men. In the Kiribati
context, unimwane (old men) make decision in the community. Women are just stewards, running outside the
mwaneaba (meeting house), and organizing home affairs. Women wake up early, work so harder, eat less
and last, sleep late whereas men are just breadwinners, but at the same time
they are bosses whom their voices should be complied with. I believe, the more men and women share their
duties, the faster the development is.
c. Access to Health, Education, Food & Shelter
I
chose this because I also believe that as a leader, everyone should access to health
because people should be healthy – people cannot pursue to work if unhealthy. Education is the heart of development. Children should go to school so that they get
qualification and bring benefits to the country. However, we cannot forget that food &
shelter are the basic human needs. According to humanistic approach developed
by Abraham Maslow, he believes that there are certain hierarchy of needs. He specified the first two blocks, food &
shelter as the basic needs and that no one can do daily work or even satisfy
life unless these first two needs are met.
Is there anything you would add to the Commonwealth Charter?
Yes. Indeed, I am
impressed because it also takes into consideration the
importance of young people’s contribution in the commonwealth. However, just to add, I think, I would raise the point of IMPORTANCE OF
ELDERLY. This
goes with the Kiribati statement that states “Rikirakem, bon rikiraken kanam te ben” which
literally means that when you get grow, your foods (coconut) increases”. But the secret behind it is that the more you grow the more knowledge and skills you get.
In Kiribati
as well as other pacific island countries, we, people believe that old people are
decision makers. Therefore, I suggest
that “ELDERY IN THE COMMONWEALTH” should be included as one of the Commonwealth
values and principles.
