NEWS RELEASE

STANDING COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Increase engagement of NGOs, civil society and Canadian public in next UPR process, develop comprehensive plan says
Senate Human Rights Committee report

Ottawa, June 23, 2010 - Canada needs a comprehensive plan to prepare for its next Universal Periodic Review (UPR) before the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), including a clear, effective, inclusive and transparent process for engaging not only with NGOs and the rest of civil society, but also with the Canadian public regarding Canada’s human rights record, says a report by the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights entitled: Canada and the United Nations Human Rights Council: Charting a New Course.

“Our committee has been engaged in a long term study of the development of the UNHCR and of Canada’s role as a Council member from 2006 to 2009. We paid close attention to the evolution of the Council’s primary review mechanism of the human rights records of UN member states, the UPR,” says Senator Janis Johnson, Chair of the committee. “A main emphasis in our report pertains to the need for the Government of Canada to begin publicly preparing now for its next UPR, expected in 2013, and to begin broad consultations as to how it may best respond to the human rights issues affecting Canada.”

“The success of the UN Human Rights Council depends very much on whether countries like Canada demonstrate their commitment to not only participating fully in the review of their human rights records during the UPR, but also their commitment to implementing the recommendations they have accepted from UN Member States during their review. This includes improving their compliance with international human rights treaties,” says Senator Mobina Jaffer, Deputy Chair of the committee. “Our committee will continue to monitor our Government’s commitment to the UPR process as it prepares for Canada’s next review.”

The report outlines twenty-one recommendations for the Government of Canada to enhance its human rights leadership role internationally and to better meet its human rights obligations at home. The committee calls on the Government of Canada to find better ways of promoting Canada’s position on human rights at the UN, to reach out to Member States with diverging views to build bridges, and to assist the UNHRC in becoming an effective forum for objectively dealing with international human rights issues. To succeed in these efforts, the committee calls once again on the Government of Canada to establish an office of the Canadian Ambassador for Human Rights.

The report also reviews how Canada fared at its first UPR, noting that many states, including some traditional allies, and many NGOs were critical of how Canada is handling certain human rights issues affecting Aboriginal peoples. The report also calls on the Government of Canada to take immediate steps to endorse the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in a manner that is fully consistent with the Constitution of Canada and Canadian laws.

The report and full list of recommendations can be read by visiting the committee website:

For further information, please contact: http://senate-senat.ca/rights-droits-e.asp.

Ceri Au
Communication Officer
613-994-9145
auc@sen.parl.gc.ca

Adam Thompson
Committee Clerk
613-991-3620
thompa@sen.parl.gc.ca