The Queen signed an historical document yesterday. The London Evening Standard published yesterday reported the charter that was signed on Mar 11, 2013 is a step forward. “Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said the charter was "a step forward" but claimed much more needed to be done to protect gay rights in Commonwealth countries. He said: "It is an important document but it does not include any explicit commitment to gay rights.
According to SheKnows Entertainment Queen Elizabeth II, is taking a big step for equal rights in her country by signing a document that is meant to define core values for all 54 of the Commonwealth's member states.” However, some groups are not happy about the wording. Even though the charter reads, "We are implacably opposed to all forms of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, color, creed, political belief or other grounds."
On the other hand, Mail Online, “There appears to be a clause in the charter to prohibit discrimination on 'other grounds - this could be interpreted to cover homophobic discrimination but it will be down to the discretion of individual commonwealth countries.”
Can the feminist movement benefit even more from Elizabeth II?
According to pickled politics, “The succession to the throne is weighted in favor of males, so that any male child is automatically closer in line to the throne than his sister(s), whatever their ages. This arrangement made sense five hundred or more years ago when this was the norm in most households. If the monarchy had attempted to reform it then, it could well have led to civil war, as many would have flocked to the banner of a male pretender to the throne, angry at the change in customs or simply to exploit the situation.
But since then, the diminishing power of the monarchy in relation to other institutions has meant this is no longer a concern. In the 16th century, there were real worries about whether a woman could rule properly. It was not [until the reign of Elizabeth I] that people realized that a woman could be Queen of England without ruining everything. Not all of our female monarchs have been brilliant, but on average they have been no worse than the men (perhaps even a little better).
Now new legislation will support the reign of females. Prince William and Princess Kate’s baby will be monarch regardless of gender. According to the Australian News, the landmark charter with the “particularly strong stance on gender equality, follows International Women's Day, which was celebrated on March 8.”
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