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<html> <head> <meta name="Generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 8"> <title>MR. AXWORTHY - ADDRESS TO THE OPENING OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS NGO CONSULTATIONS - OTTAWA, ONTARIO</title> </head> <body text="#000000" link="#0000ff" vlink="#551a8b" alink="#ff0000" bgcolor="#c0c0c0"> 99/18 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY NOTES FOR AN ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE LLOYD AXWORTHY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO THE OPENING OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS NGO CONSULTATIONS OTTAWA, Ontario March 4, 1999 (12:00 p.m. EST) Welcome to the annual pre-CHR [UN Commission on Human Rights] consultations between the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Canadian human rights NGOs [non-governmental organizations]. Each year, these consultations give us at the Department an opportunity to get a fresh perspective on the issues we confront every day in our work and to take stock of what we have done in the year since our last consultations with you. It requires us to prove the worth of our established policies or to change them. It also allows us the chance to discuss our priorities and approaches to the issues with you. The fact that this is the 11th iteration of these consultations is itself a testament to the value we place on the information and advice we receive from NGOs over these two days. Reflection . . . The 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights [UDHR] gave the international community, both government and civil society, a chance to do some longer-term stocktaking -- to reflect on the 50 years since the foundations were laid for an international system for addressing human rights questions. Here at home, the Canadian government sponsored a number of activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary. Some of the activities looked back at what has been -- for instance, the launch of a commemorative stamp recognizing the contribution of John P. Humphrey to the drafting of the UDHR. Others looked forward to what is still to be done and the new challenges that lie ahead -- for instance, a conference on human rights and the Internet. Last summer's international conference in Ottawa -- which reviewed the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action [VDPA] from the vantage point of five years later -- was a bridge: it looked at what has been done to implement the VDPA and made recommendations on how to continue using the VDPA as a map for future action. . . . and Achievement Not only were the last twelve months a time for reflection, it was also a year of substantial achievements. I would like to highlight three. First, by adopting the Statute of the International Criminal Court, the international community recognized its obligation to address the insidious problem of impunity. The Court, which covers crimes of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, will attack the culture of impunity, which has often been the hiding place of the most egregious human rights violators. At this year's Commission on Human Rights, we will once again be leading on the issue of impunity, seeking to ensure that human rights violators do not go unpunished. Another major achievement was the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. Recent experience (in Colombia) has unfortunately brought back into the spotlight the real dangers faced in some parts of the world by human rights defenders. The Declaration recognizes the contribution defenders make and is a first step in making the world a safer place for their work. Finally, Canada is moving forward in integrating human rights concerns into our work on the Security Council. On February 12, I presided over Council discussions on the protection of civilians. As follow-up, the Secretary-General is preparing a report on ways in which the Council, working with other parts of the UN system, can better address the plight of civilians caught in armed conflict. Respect for human rights is the foundation of human security. We have to work strategically to build on the incremental progress achieved over the past few years in inserting human rights into Council deliberations. Challenges Ahead The 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration was a time of achievements, but major challenges lie ahead. First among them is working to ensure that the human being, human rights and human dignity become the basic unit of analysis for international relations -- what I call human security. In all our areas of international activity -- peacekeeping, development and trade -- we are beginning to recognize the human rights implications of our foreign policies. The main challenge, and one that is ongoing, will be to ensure we do not become complacent. We have begun work with the Canadian non-governmental human rights community and with other parts of government to re-examine our human rights strategy, asking where we have done well and where we could do better. With limited resources and unlimited wishes, establishing priorities in foreign policy becomes a critical, if complex, task. Through continuous and continuing consultation with our partners, including civil society, we have identified broad themes and areas that we believe need greater attention and resolution. Among them are areas that will be discussed in depth over the next two days and throughout the next and coming years. Children's rights: It is always the most vulnerable who bear the brunt of the uncertainties of our world. Protecting and promoting the rights of children at the international level will remain a policy priority for Canada. Sexual exploitation of children, child labour and war-affected children are issues of particular concern. Canada is participating in the drafting of an optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on these issues, and we will continue to ensure that children's rights are part of our policy efforts. Freedom of religion and belief: As part of tomorrow's consultation agenda, you will be discussing the thorny issue of freedom of religion and belief. At times, there is a close affiliation between religion and ethno-political identity. The situations in Indonesia and Sudan exemplify the importance of dialogue between different ethnic and religious groups as a means of fostering lasting peace. I hope that this roundtable will be the beginning of an in-depth dialogue with Canadian civil society on these issues. In mid-March we are helping to fund a second roundtable on international religious persecution, which I plan to attend. Religious intolerance is unacceptable wherever it may occur, a position highlighted in the Oslo Interfaith Declaration. As one follow-up to the Declaration, the Government of Canada has placed religious freedom as a standing agenda item of our bilateral dialogues with China and Cuba. I am pleased to note that China has indicated its willingness to host a visit by a Canadian delegation to engage in dialogue on issues of religious freedom. Member churches of the Canadian Council of Churches, in conjunction with their Chinese partners, are discussing options for such a continued dialogue. Freedom of the media: The media, essential actors in the political and democratic process, are being threatened throughout the world. Sometimes used as an instrument for hate or division, or stifled to such a degree that they are no longer an instrument of democracy, the media play an essential role in freedom that must be protected. The position of UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression was created to report on the state of expression, including that of the media, throughout the world. Canada has been the main proponent of the Special Rapporteur's work, and we have demonstrated our support with concrete projects in Bosnia, South Africa and elsewhere, in particular through the Canada Peacebuilding Initiative. The challenges posed by new information technologies: These are going to be front and centre as we head into the new millennium. Already, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has helped to fund two international conferences to look at human rights and the Internet. It is clear that the opportunities to open up the debate on human rights using new media and technologies are increasing exponentially. The chances, however, that negative influences will find their way into those channels of communication are great, and we must guard against the misuse of the technology for criminal or other illegal purposes. With a range of alternatives at our disposal, and with the participation of civil society, I am confident we will find creative ways of addressing these emerging challenges. Although we have identified some new areas of focus, this does not mean we will be abandoning our commitments in other areas. In particular, we will renew our commitment to promoting women's rights as human rights, pushing to ensure that women's human rights are firmly in the mainstream of UN human rights activity and, in fact, all areas of UN endeavour. We remain committed to ensuring that the rights of persons with disabilities retain a high profile in international forums. We are also working to ensure that the universality and indivisibility of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights set out in Vienna are reflected in resolutions of the Commission and in the work of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. At this year's CHR session, Canada will sponsor resolutions on: the situation in Rwanda; renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression; impunity; violence against women; and the draft declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Canada will also co-sponsor a resolution on freedom of religion. Over the past decade, the range and complexity of geographic and thematic human rights activities undertaken by the UN has increased dramatically. Recent years have also seen concern for human rights permeating an increasing number of UN programs and activities. One notable example is the UN Development Program's policy statement of last year on a rights-based approach to development. There are also developments in the field of human rights and trade, with the recent adoption by the International Labour Organization of a Declaration on the Fundamental Rights of Workers, and work proceeding at the UN, the OECD [Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development] and domestically on initiatives such as codes of ethical business conduct, guidelines for multinational corporations and guidelines on exploitative child labour. When it comes to Canada's own conduct, as recent events have demonstrated, we are prepared to face the scrutiny of UN and international monitoring committees and hold ourselves accountable in the same way that we wish other countries to be accountable. Effective promotion and protection of human rights requires a sound and comprehensive international legislative framework. Over the past 50 years, proliferating treaties and declarations have built on the foundation of the Universal Declaration, but there remain gaps. Most noticeable is the need to establish optional protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and a declaration on the rights of Indigenous peoples. Another immediate challenge is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Commission on Human Rights. The CHR54 Bureau report on the reform of mechanisms is a crucial step in the right direction, although there is clearly a long way to go to secure agreement on that package of reforms. As a member of last year's bureau of the Commission, Canada will be working hard with other countries at this year's Commission to push the reform package through. Improved effectiveness also will require that structural reforms be accompanied by additional resources for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights [OHCHR] and the treaty bodies. We will continue to push for an increased proportion of the UN's regular budget to be applied to human rights activities. Last year, Canada contributed an additional $580 000 to the operations of the OHCHR. Some $500 000 of that contribution went to supporting the OHCHR's field operation in Colombia -- an illustration of Canada's support for the increasingly practical "front-line" engagement of OHCHR. The rest of the contribution went to support national human rights institutions, in keeping with our approach that agents for change must grow from within the countries concerned. This type of engagement is in no small measure due to the leadership of Mary Robinson. During her visit to Canada, Mrs. Robinson met with several NGOs across the country. It came as no surprise to me that the High Commissioner was full of praise for Canadian human rights NGOs, on several occasions commenting on your dedication, competence and capacity. Over the next two days, the Government of Canada will again be drawing on that dedication, competence and capacity as we consult with you on the issues and situations to be addressed in the upcoming session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. Although many of the NGOs represented here are in regular contact with my department, these annual consultations provide a timely forum to profile human rights concerns, and to propose pragmatic steps to be taken to address them. As I have stated before, it is only by a close and effective partnership between government and civil society that Canada can maximize its influence on the international agenda for the promotion and protection of human rights. As one example of this co-operation, I am pleased to announce that the Department will be organizing a roundtable on human rights in Burma to follow up on a similar exercise last year, with the aim of making recommendations to the government. Another fine example of this type of partnership is an initiative with which I hope most of you are familiar. Last year, recognizing that the UN system has become increasingly complex in the field of human rights, with a proliferation of mechanisms, reports and activities, my department entered into a partnership with Human Rights Internet to produce a tool for navigating through UN documentation on human rights. The result, For the Record 1997, has become a useful tool in the human rights community, both internationally and at home. I am pleased to announce that For the Record 1998 is now available on the Internet. As with last year's report, the 1998 version puts summaries of all of the UN documentation on human rights in one place, arranged by country and by theme. By working to strengthen the international human rights system, to integrate human rights into our other areas of international society and to build capacity of civil society, we are expanding the range of foreign policy levers available to promote international human rights. The ultimate aim is to maximize Canada's effective influence by choosing the levers that, we hope, will produce the best results. Let's take the cases of Cuba and China as examples. I would note here that developments in the past months have made the arbitrary detention of potential dissidents a matter of particular concern in both countries and one that, with our partners, we are seeking to address. But there are avenues that we can use to try to hold governments accountable for these and other human rights violations and to promote change from within. One such venue is the bilateral dialogue on human rights. Dialogue is not a substitute for pressure or public censure. It is another channel that can be used to deliver tough human rights messages and to work with a range of actors in government and civil society to bring about change. For instance, we have used our bilateral dialogue with China to deliver tough messages on human rights violations such as torture, freedom of religion and belief, minority rights, human rights in the workplace (including rights of the disabled), independence of the judiciary and political prisoners. We are using the dialogue to press for increased co-operation with UN mechanisms (including follow-up to the visit of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention) and for ratification of the two International Covenants -- on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and on Civil and Political Rights. In light of recent crackdowns in China involving the arrest of political dissidents and the imposition of harsh sentences, the need has become even greater to use all the means at our disposal to press for change, including the bilateral dialogue. In the case of Cuba, the bilateral dialogue and diplomatic representations at all levels -- from officials up to the Prime Minister -- have served to raise such delicate issues as political prisoners, and freedom of opinion and expression, including political expression and religious freedom. Developments over the past two weeks -- the continuing detention of political prisoners, recent legislation targeting journalists and the round up of activists -- have raised serious concerns about Cuba's commitment to advancing respect for human rights and good governance and will be addressed in the context of our Joint Declaration. Bilateral human rights dialogues are, however, only a means to an end. Even where bilateral dialogues are possible, multilateral and other diplomatic channels need to be kept open to ensure concrete results. Again using the example of Cuba, although there is not currently a specific rapporteur on that country, there are still a range of UN mechanisms in place which can get vital information on the human rights situation out to the international community. For the Record sets out reports on Cuba by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and by rapporteurs on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the independence of the judiciary, torture, and violence against women. In the case of China, in addition to the messages on human rights that we deliver using diplomatic channels, plus statements at the UN Commission on Human Rights and our bilateral dialogue, there is also a range of UN mechanisms in place to press for compliance, and to encourage and build capacity for respect of international human rights. For the Record sets out a number of these: the Working Groups on Arbitrary Detention and Disappearances, and reports on extrajudicial executions, freedom of opinion and expression, religious intolerance, sale of children, torture, and violence against women. As follow-up to her visit to China last year, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is sending a mission to that country to assess where there is scope for progress. The key is to take a multi-faceted approach to countries -- combining inducements and encouragement with harder measures such as statements at the Commission on Human Rights and international monitoring mechanisms. We are slowly making our way. Building respect for human rights takes time; it is prone to reversals; and it requires sustained action on the bilateral and multilateral fronts. It further requires the input and active partnership of human rights non-governmental organizations. My officials are looking forward to their discussions with you over the next two days. May I take this opportunity to wish you successful and productive consultations. I look forward to hearing the results of your work. Thank you. </body> </html>

2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003 - 2002 - 2001 - 2000 - 1999 - 1998 - 1997 - 1996

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