Thank you, Chair.
Thank you to all the witnesses for their time.
It is very sad to sit here and listen to your horrific stories, and my heart goes out to all of you. Nobody should go through this. All human beings in this world should enjoy human rights. That's a basic right, and no human rights should be violated anywhere in the world.
Speaking on our government's record, I would like to say that our Prime Minister was the first prime minister to meet the Dalai Lama in his Hill office. The Prime Minister spoke out on human rights repeatedly when he was in China, so much so that he was attacked in the Chinese media. Minister Kenney, the minister of immigration, was a key speaker defending Tibet at last year's international convention. Minister Baird recently spoke out on Tibet as well.
A significant increase in surveillance and Chinese intervention has been reported with regard to Tibet's religious freedom. This includes the presence of state officials within monasteries and nunneries. What effect does this have on the religious freedom of monks and nuns and religious people in Tibet?
My second question is a very short one. In 2009, Canada participated in China's first universal periodic review. We made several recommendations on the subjects of judicial reform and the protection of human rights, one of which was accepted there. With the second periodic universal review coming up, do you feel that China has improved in these areas? What do you anticipate for this universal review report? Could you please comment on this?
Thank you.