Harare Declaration

Harare Declaration
Name	Harare Declaration
Adopted	1991
Location	Harare, Zimbabwe
By	Commonwealth of Nations
Purpose	reaffirmation of political principles and values

Harare Declaration The Harare Declaration was a 1991 statement reaffirming the political principles of the Commonwealth of Nations following the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union. It restated commitments to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law articulated earlier by the Lusaka Declaration and contrasted with the political transitions in states such as South Africa and Namibia. The Declaration shaped the Commonwealth's response to crises involving states like Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sierra Leone and informed later instruments including the Millennium Declaration and the Republic of South Africa Constitutional Court decisions referencing democratic standards.

Background and context

The Declaration emerged amid global transitions after the Revolutions of 1989, the reunification of Germany, and shifts in international institutions such as the United Nations and the European Union. It followed earlier Commonwealth statements including the Lusaka Manifesto and interacted with regional developments in Southern Africa exemplified by the negotiated settlement in Zimbabwe and the independence of Namibia. Delegates from member states influenced by leaders associated with Margaret Thatcher, Nelson Mandela, and Rajiv Gandhi debated principles resonant with instruments like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the post-Cold War discourse of the Paris Charter for a New Europe.

Content and principles

The Declaration set out core norms emphasizing pluralist democracy (as seen in transitions in India and Ghana), respect for fundamental rights reflected in jurisprudence from the European Court of Human Rights and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and adherence to constitutionalism evident in rulings from the Supreme Court of India and the Constitutional Court of South Africa. It articulated positions on democratic elections like those in Canada and Australia, the separation of powers celebrated in decisions from the United States Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, and commitments to anti-corruption measures reminiscent of initiatives in Singapore and New Zealand. The Declaration also addressed issues of good governance relating to the experiences of Kenya, Malaysia, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Adoption and signatories

The document was adopted at a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in Harare, Zimbabwe with attendance from heads linked to administrations such as John Major (United Kingdom), Brian Mulroney (Canada), P. W. Botha's successors in South Africa transition, and leaders from India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, Nigeria, and Ghana. Signatories included representatives of states belonging to the same network as United Kingdom, Canada, India, Australia, South Africa, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Malaysia. The adoption process paralleled diplomatic practices found in agreements like the Anglo-Irish Agreement and the Lusaka Accords.

Implementation and impact

Following adoption, the Commonwealth applied the Declaration's standards through mechanisms similar to enforcement in bodies like the International Criminal Court and the European Union political conditionality, leading to actions involving suspension or censure of members such as Nigeria and interventions in situations like the Fiji coups d'état and crises in Sierra Leone. The principles informed election monitoring missions comparable to those of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and influenced capacity-building programs linked to the Commonwealth Secretariat, training modeled on initiatives from the United Nations Development Programme and partnerships with institutions like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. The Declaration also affected bilateral relations with states including China, United States, and Russia as Commonwealth pronouncements factored into diplomatic dialogues.

Criticism and controversy

Critics referenced tensions similar to debates about the UN Security Council and accused the Commonwealth of selective application in episodes involving Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe and responses to coups in Pakistan and Fiji. Observers drew comparisons with controversies surrounding the European Union enlargement and enforcement, arguing that political considerations from leaders like Margaret Thatcher or Mahatma Gandhi-era legacies influenced outcomes. Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch highlighted perceived inconsistencies when contrasting Commonwealth responses to crises in Sri Lanka, Rwanda, and Liberia with its stated principles.

Legacy and influence on subsequent policies

The Declaration became a foundation for subsequent Commonwealth instruments including the Millennium Declaration-era initiatives, influenced the drafting of the Commonwealth Charter, and informed debates at later summits in locales such as Durban and Kensington Gardens. Its normative framework echoed in jurisprudence from regional courts like the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights and in policy guidance adopted by organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme and the Commonwealth of Learning. The Harare Declaration's emphasis on democratic norms and human rights continues to shape diplomatic practice toward members including Bangladesh, Mozambique, Papua New Guinea, and Sri Lanka, and remains cited in analyses by scholars affiliated with institutions like Oxford University, Harvard University, and the London School of Economics.

Category:Commonwealth of Nations