Queen Cancels Westminster Abbey Visit

Tim Marshall, Foreign Affairs Editor

Updated: 2:26pm UK, Monday 11 March 2013

The Queen is not signing a new charter "backing equal rights for women and gay people in every Commonwealth nation", despite headlines to the contrary.

She is signing a document which has no legal underpinning, and which has been watered down in order to ensure Commonwealth countries that have homophobic laws (a majority of them) would agree to it.

This could be regarded as a step forward for those who believe in equality for gay people, or it could be seen as a sop allowing homophobic governments a fig leaf to continue repressive practices.

The Commonwealth Charter declares: "We are implacably opposed to all forms of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, colour, creed, political belief or other grounds."

Not, you will note, "on grounds of sexuality", but "on other grounds". This language is not just loose, it is deliberately so.

The words "other grounds" are being seen by some as including sexuality.

However, they can interpret it that way as much as they wish. The fact that "sexuality" is not spelled out will allow homophobic governments to retain laws currently used to suppress forms of sexuality they see as threatening.

According to the Human right campaigner Peter Tatchell, 41 of the 54 Commonwealth states still criminalise homosexuality.

Being found 'guilty' of homosexual acts can carry life sentences in jail in countries such as Sierra Leone and Bangladesh.

Uganda is considering legislation introducing the death penalty for repeat offenders.

A state which jails people for homosexuality can still argue that their national laws allow for this and say that their reading of the Commonwealth Charter allows for it.

Mr Tatchell told Sky News that while the charter could be considered a step forward it "does not include an explicit commitment to gay equality ... this was vetoed by the homophobic majority of member states."

In her speech the Queen will say: "Our shared values… which are found in our new Commonwealth Charter - mean that we place special emphasis on including everyone in this goal, especially those who are vulnerable."

She may say that, but the charter does not.

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