Thank you, Mr. Chair.
This motion calls on the government to support the UN Human Rights Council and the Universal Periodic Review. It reads as follows:
That the Subcommittee on International Human Rights request that the government renew its candidacy for the UN Human RIghts Council and show its support for the Council; that the Subcommittee also request that the Government of Canada take advantage of the review of the work and functioning of the Human Rights Council to help strengthen the effectiveness and credibility of the Universal Periodic Review by suggesting: that more time be devoted to the review than the current three hours; that NGOs and national human rights institutions be given a broader role in interactive dialogue; and that independent experts be heard from; further, that the Subcommittee report this motion to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development to be reported to the House.
Mr. Chair, when the committee last met on Tuesday, Messrs. Sweet, Cotler and Marston all stressed that some of the witnesses's concerns about the Universal Periodic Review process should be included in part one of the report. The motion that I am moving today calls for exactly that. In my opinion, it is critically important that Canada participate in the Universal Periodic Review process recently initiated by the council. The process has reached the midway point in the first four-year cycle. In order for Canada to help make the process better, obviously it needs to become a member of the council.
Recently, I attended a roundtable along with many other experts at which the UPR process and the mid-cycle report were discussed. Many benefits and successes associated with the Universal Periodic Review were noted, along with some major shortcomings. The process works and is effective, but a number of changes could make it even better and more effective. To that end, Canada needs to renew its candidacy for council and participate in the discussions on the Universal Periodic Review. I understand why the government party sometimes call into question the very credibility of the council. According to statements made by some of the people who attended the last committee meeting, some council members are guilty of violating human rights. It should be noted that in the eyes of some countries, Canada is also guilty of violating rights, specifically those of its aboriginal peoples. Besides, the empty chair policy has never been a sound policy. We must contribute to the dialogue, not exclude ourselves from the process. We need to remember that even the United States joined the council in 2009 and that Canada should have renewed its candidacy at the time, but failed to do so.
My motion outlines the main changes that have been recommended by international experts on the subject. I have prepared a brief overview, describing these experts' backgrounds and the circumstances that led me to draft this motion. To my mind, it is critically important that Canada show leadership in the efforts to strengthen the Universal Periodic Review. If the motion is adopted, Mr. Chair, we could even incorporate certain elements of the review process in part one of our report, for instance, the renewal of Canada's candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council, so that it can participate in the mid-cycle Universal Periodic Review process and make improvements to this mechanism.
That is, Mr. Chair, the aim of this motion.