Mr. Speaker, today is International Human Rights Day. In 1948 the international community adopted the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and observed December 10 as Human Rights Day.
The respect for human rights is one of the cornerstones of a functional democratic nation. The world is rife with human rights abuses. Every day in one way or another we are informed about human rights violations in various parts of the globe. Individual rights are either violated by oppressive regimes or by the actions of others. In some instances others have lost their lives as they struggle for even the most basic human rights.
Canadians and the government must not take human rights for granted. As a nation we must continue to work at upholding and promoting human rights in Canada and around the world.