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<html> <head> <meta name="generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 10"> <meta http-equiv="content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <style> p { margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1px } body { font-family: "Arial", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal } </style> </head> <body> March 14, 2005 GENEVA, Switzerland 2005/14 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY NOTES FOR AN ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE PIERRE PETTIGREW, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, TO THE 61st SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS I am very pleased to be here with you again, at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, to debate fundamental questions on the promotion and protection of human rights, questions that touch on both human dignity and peace and security in our world. When we look at the world today, we note the democratic advances made in recent decades, but also the proliferation of intra- and interstate conflicts and the rise of terrorism as a method for obtaining demands. In that context, the progress achieved in promoting and protecting human rights is still too little. Indeed, it has been offset by incidents of horrifying atrocities, which have too often led to dire situations where crimes against humanity have been committed. In recent weeks, there is a new promise of peace in the Middle East. We are encouraged by the positive developments we can see in the region which, we hope, set the scene for more constructive action on human rights. Still, the situation in certain states warrants comment. After two resolutions adopted at the UN General Assembly and several visits by UN Special Rapporteurs on Human Rights, Iran continues to fail to implement many of its international obligations with respect to human rights; the time has come for Iran to show its willingness to address its human rights record. The human rights violations in Iran are serious and they must stop. Canada continues to promote a strong multilateral system, capable of addressing the whole range of inter-related contemporary challenges, from development to human rights to peace and security. As the international community prepares to gather for the Summit of Heads of State and Government in New York this fall on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the United Nations, we have an unprecedented opportunity since the creation of the United Nations to work to reform the multilateral system to make it more effective and to enhance its capacity to take on today’s challenges. The report of the High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change and the report Investing in Development about the Millennium Development Goals have already stimulated debate on this issue, and we await with great interest the report by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, which is to be released shortly. Canada plans to make a very active contribution to discussions on United Nations reform. United Nations reform and human rights The multilateral system for the promotion and protection of human rights has been the subject of much criticism recently, much of it highly relevant. The credibility of the Commission on Human Rights, in particular, has been challenged. The report by the High-Level Panel addresses that question very eloquently. What do we expect from a multilateral system for promotion and protection of human rights? Canada believes such a system should help us develop standards; monitor respect for human rights throughout the world; promote constructive dialogue; support the strengthening of Member States’ capacities to promote and protect human rights; and in the case of serious violations, intervene to protect vulnerable populations. This system should be flexible, so that we can make progress in new areas, such as fighting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity; rise to today’s challenges, such as respect for human rights in the fight against terrorism; and continue to address “old” questions that unfortunately are still topical, such as torture, racism and suppression of opinion. To achieve this, we need a coherent, complete plan, and I would like to mention some of the critical elements:   •         First of all, the promotion and protection of human rights must be integrated into all UN activities. In that respect, I must congratulate the High Commissioner and her Office for her work with humanitarian agencies in Darfur. But much remains to be done, both to implement the protection of human rights on the ground and to ensure that all United Nations bodies, including the Security Council, give the issue of human rights the attention it requires. The situation in Darfur underlines, in particular, the links between conflict and human rights: the importance of the promotion and protection of human rights as a tool to prevent conflict, as a central responsibility of states during conflict, and as a means to restore sustainable peace and pursue equitable development following conflict.   •         It is also key to re-establish the credibility of the Commission, as well as to strengthen the relevance and the quality of its work. In this respect, we look favourably at the proposal for universal membership of the Commission. This would provide an opportunity for all Member States to engage on human rights issues—and we would look for a responsible and constructive engagement. We should also look at improving the methods of work of the Commission, update its agenda, consider the possibility of holding more—maybe shorter—sessions during the year. To this end, we support balancing the country-specific function of the Commission with its thematic focus. All victims of human rights violations live somewhere, in some specific country. Canada holds that when this Commission is provoked by the extent of violations in specific situations, it must respond with more than general prescriptions. We are concerned about group positions against these resolutions, particularly the use of “no action” motions to stall debate on country resolutions. We believe that such motions are an abuse of the rules of procedure which is incompatible with our responsibilities as Members of the Commission on Human Rights. Further, to promote a culture of transparency and accountability, we could look at the possibility of having the Commission consider, over time, the human rights situation in each UN Member State.   •         Moreover, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights must be provided with more funding from the UN’s regular budget, so that it can pursue its activities in numerous key areas for human rights, including support for Special Procedures, treaty bodies, and technical and operational assistance on the ground. These different instruments for the promotion and protection of human rights should also be improved. Canada will thus support all measures to achieve greater integration of human rights into the work of the UN and the strengthening of human rights structures. But there is also a need to ensure that the international community has both the will and the capacity to respond effectively and quickly to crises where crimes against humanity and war crimes are committed and the protection of civilians is threatened and human rights violated. Promoting the Responsibility to Protect is at the heart of United Nations reform. We are very pleased with the contents of the report of the High-Level Panel in this regard, which recommends among other things that the rules for use of force be embodied in relevant United Nations resolutions. Canada believes that next fall’s UN Summit declaration should include recognition of sovereignty as a responsibility, to signal recognition that sovereignty entails not only rights, but also obligations, especially for the protection of civilians. In addition, Canada believes that it is critical that the Security Council negotiate and adopt a resolution that embodies the guidelines for the use of force recommended by the High-Level Panel. The multilateral system for human rights: Canada’s contribution Implementing all these reforms will obviously hinge on the support of all Member States of the United Nations, especially the members of the Commission on Human Rights, who have a special responsibility in that regard. Canada, for its part, is committed to assuming its responsibilities. Accordingly:   •         We plan to participate actively and constructively in the dialogue on reform. In particular, we will work to strengthen cooperation among countries in different regions, including through informal bodies such as the Human Security Network or the Group of Friends on UN Reform.   •         We will support the High Commissioner for Human Rights and her Office more substantially. We recently committed to increasing our financial contribution, in the amount of C$5 million over three years.   •         We will also contribute actively to the work of the Commission on Human Rights, notably by presenting a number of resolutions to empower the international community to make progress in certain areas. Allow me to elaborate the work that we will undertake on some resolutions this year. The fight against impunity for perpetrators of serious international crimes through both domestic and international mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court, remains a priority for Canada. Establishing accountability for violations of human rights is essential for justice and reconciliation in societies emerging from conflict. This year, the Commission should welcome the updated Principles on Impunity and support the High Commissioner in her efforts to work with States and the UN system to support their capacity to fulfil their responsibility to protect the victims of the worst human rights violations. Another Canadian priority is the Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We will use our resolution to seek agreement on a one-session extension of the UN Working Group on the Draft Declaration to complete its work. Significant progress has been made by the Working Group in the last two years and States and Indigenous peoples must seize this opportunity to produce a strong and effective Declaration in 2005. As we think of the 10th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration celebrated recently by the Commission on the Status of Women in New York, I must also say that the promotion of women’s rights and gender equality continues to be at the core of Canadian foreign policy. In New York, States reaffirmed the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and have recommited themselves to their full implementation. Above all, we encourage all States to respect the universality and indivisibility of women’s human rights, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, and to refuse to make women’s rights contingent on political and cultural considerations. Canada is proud to sponsor a resolution on violence against women at the Commission as it has done for 11 years. Implementing international obligations domestically Each Member State has the responsibility to ensure that international standards are implemented in its own country, and in so doing, to cooperate fully with the multilateral system for human rights. Here again, Canada intends to assume its responsibilities—both toward its own citizens and to the international community—and calls on all other States to do the same.   •         Canada has already ratified a large number of international instruments. We plan to examine very seriously the possibility of ratifying others, including the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (aiming at the abolition of the death penalty). We also plan to fulfill our reporting commitments to treaty monitoring bodies.   •         In a spirit of transparency and accountability, we extended an open invitation to visit Canada several years ago to the Special Procedures of the Commission. That invitation still stands. In the past 18 months, we have hosted the Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples. In the near future, we will host the Working Group of Arbitrary Detention. The visit by the Special Rapporteur on Racism was an opportunity for the Government to reaffirm its commitment to fight racism and to continue its efforts to develop a plan of action against racism. The report on the visit to Canada by the Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples is a positive contribution to our collective efforts to improve the lives of all Aboriginal peoples in Canada. In general, we take very seriously the observations and recommendations made during the many visits by Special Procedures to Canada.   •         Finally, the Government of Canada is committed to maintaining an open and constructive dialogue with Canadian civil society on all human rights questions. In conclusion, I would like to underline that Canada will be celebrating the 20th anniversary next month of section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Section 15 stipulates that “Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.” This article is a fundamental expression of Canada’s deep determination to promote a society that recognizes the worth of every individual, and every individual’s contribution to the greater community. Over the last 20 years, Canada has progressed toward an era of substantive equality where we accept and encourage differences and promote identical treatment for all. Canada is a unique political project. As an open society, we have taken up the challenge of equality amidst diversity and we have proudly made this a touchstone of our identity. Thank you. </body> </html>

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Last Updated: 2006-10-30	Top of Page	Important Notices