Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you, Chairman. If I might return to the issue of human rights of women, I'll make the observation that in addition to the language relating to the human rights of women contained in the resolution that we have put forward for the past six years, Canada has also called upon Iran to implement the international human rights conventions it has ratified.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you, Chairman. Very briefly, I just want to make the observation that in the Secretary General's report of September 23 on the human rights situation in Iran, the issue of the rights of minorities is addressed. There is an observation that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights “continues to receive reports of human rights abuses against minorities”, although “it is impossible to verify all the information”.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you. I should have mentioned that even in the absence of any resolutions being adopted at the Human Rights Council, Iran will be subject to universal periodic review in February of 2010, so there will be a structured opportunity for the members of the Human Rights Council to look very closely at Iran's conduct.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you. I'm just inquiring as to the status of resolutions in the Human Rights Council. Certainly Canada has expressed its concern through the Human Rights Council, but I'm not aware of a resolution as such being adopted at this point.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Mr. Chair, are we talking about the people and leaders of Israel or Iran?

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Right. Pursuant to our policy and UN resolutions, we have a commitment that is guided by the actions of Iran's leaders. Our request that human rights be respected is directed to the country's leaders. In essence, we are asking the government to support the rights of its own people.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you, Chair. To expand a little bit on the question with regard to the Baha'i, I would just observe, in addition to Mr. McLaren's comments about Canada having flagged this issue in successive human rights resolutions, that we've also flagged it before the Human Rights Council in Geneva.