The leaders of the Commonwealth, a group primarily consisting of former British colonies, gathered for a three-day summit with the urgent task of addressing human rights abuses among its members in order to maintain its relevance. Queen Elizabeth of Britain, at 85 years old, inaugurated the meeting of leaders from the 54 states of the Commonwealth, which represents 30 percent of the global population and five of the G20 leading economies, yet struggles to have a significant impact on worldwide policies. The summit was overshadowed by the necessity for the group to take a firmer stance on human and political rights violations, as a confidential report warned that failing to do so could render the Commonwealth ineffective. Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard highlighted this issue in her opening speech, emphasizing the need for member nations to adhere to the group's values and make necessary changes. The focus of much of the discussion has been on Sri Lanka and the international calls for an independent investigation into allegations of war crimes during its 25-year civil war, particularly in the final months of 2009. Sri Lanka has stated that it will wait for the results of its own inquiry next month, dismissing the pressure regarding human rights as propaganda from the defeated Tamil Tigers. A senior Commonwealth official reported that foreign ministers were unable to reach a consensus on a key recommendation from a report by "eminent persons" to appoint a rights commissioner. Canada, which has a large Tamil population, has announced it will boycott the 2013 Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka unless there is improvement in the host country's human rights record. Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific Deputy Director, Madhu Malhotra, stated that Commonwealth leaders must decide whether to reform the organization to effectively address human rights violations by its members, or risk losing relevance. British Prime Minister David Cameron rejected the idea that the Commonwealth was no longer valuable, emphasizing its role as a global network of 54 countries with shared values promoting human rights, democracy, and freedom. Aborigines performed a cleansing ceremony at the opening ceremony in Perth, welcoming leaders to their traditional homeland. Aborigines refer to British white settlement in Australia as an invasion, highlighting the clash of cultures. In Perth, around 500 protesters demonstrated on various issues but were kept away from leaders by a large police presence in the central business district. The district is dominated by office blocks of mining companies, which are crucial to Western Australia's economy. Several smaller countries within the group, particularly those at risk from global warming, are urging for a strong statement before the upcoming climate change summit in Durban. Additionally, there are calls for leaders to help end the practice of child brides, as twelve of the top 20 countries with high rates of child brides are in the Commonwealth. Health advocates argue that laws in 41 Commonwealth states criminalizing homosexuality violate human rights and are obstructing efforts to combat HIV-AIDS. These states account for 60 percent of the global HIV-AIDS population.