CHOGM 2011 underway

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The Queen will formally open the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth this morning.

Yesterday Her Majesty and Prince Philip attended a state reception at Government House in Perth.

The Queen also attended an event at Clontarf Aboriginal College.

Commonwealth leaders are gathering today for the opening of CHOGM, which Prime Minister Julia Gillard will chair over the next three days.

Items on the agenda include recommendations from the Eminent Persons' Group (EPG) - a nine-person panel charged with making recommendations to reform the Commonwealth.

The panel has suggested the Commonwealth set up a charter of principles and have a commissioner for democracy and human rights.

The recommendations have received scant support, with AM being told only six or so of the 54 member state nations favour the idea of a commissioner.

However some members have pressed for serious reform.

British foreign secretary William Hague warns the organisation needs change, otherwise it will lose relevancy.

"The case for reinvigorating the Commonwealth is abundantly clear," he said.

"Britain wholeheartedly supports the recommendations of the EPG, in particular we welcome their focus on promoting the values of the Commonwealth.

"The modern Commonwealth has always been an association based on strong values.

"We also support recommendations to institute a Commonwealth commissioner for democracy, rule of law and human rights. This is a controversial recommendation."

Mr Hague says regardless of whether the EPG's recommendations are adopted the Commonwealth should should focus on learning from each other, rather than lecturing one another.

A delegate to the civil society forum held on the sidelines of CHOGM says the Commonwealth needs to become more accountable.

"Unless our heads of government take it seriously that the time has come for a meaningful organisation that can give action to its words, we perhaps are seeing the end days of the Commonwealth," Jerald Joseph said.

-ABC