CANADA SIGNS KEY INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT TO COMBAT RACIST CRIMES ON THE INTERNET

OTTAWA, July 8, 2005 – Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Irwin Cotler, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pierre Pettigrew, today announced that Canada has signed the Council of Europe's first Additional Protocol to the Convention on cybercrime, concerning the criminalisation of acts of a racist and xenophobic nature committed through computer systems, as well as hate-motivated threats and insults.

"Only greater international cooperation can help eradicate the scourge of racist and hate-related material made increasingly accessible over the Internet," said Minster Cotler. "Signing this Protocol underscores Canada's commitment to fight hate crimes at home and abroad. It is a key deliverable in the Government's Action Plan Against Racism."

"Canada plays a leadership role in improving human security worldwide, which includes working toward the elimination of hate-motivated crimes," stated Minister Pettigrew. "When these crimes are committed online and transcend borders, countries must work together to make progress."

The Protocol extends the application of the Convention on Cybercrime to racist offences committed through a computer system. When in force, the Protocol will enable Canada to respond to and issue its own requests for extradition and legal assistance in the investigation and prosecution of Protocol offences.

Canadian compliance with the Protocol will be congruent with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, notably its freedom-of-expression provisions.

Canada has some of the most comprehensive laws against hate crimes in the world. In the October 2004 Speech from the Throne, the federal government committed to take measures to strengthen Canada's ability to combat racism, hate speech and hate crimes, both domestically and around the world. Signing this Protocol responds to this commitment and is an important component of Canada's first-ever Action Plan Against Racism, launched in March 2005.

Canada is joining 28 European states that have signed the Protocol. Five ratifications are required for the Protocol to come into force. To date, four States have ratified it. Canada signed the Convention on Cybercrime in 2001 and it came into force in July 2004.

For an online version of the Protocol, visit: http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/en/Treaties/Html/189.htm

For more information on Canada's Action Plan Against Racism, visit: http://www.pch.gc.ca/multi/plan_action_plan/index_e.cfm

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Denise Rudnicki
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Justice
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Sébastien Théberge
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
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