Evidence of meeting #16 for Subcommittee on International Human Rights in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was ethiopian.
A video is available from Parliament.
10:35 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sameer Zuberi
Thank you, Ms. Teich and Mr. Brunelle‑Duceppe.
We will continue with Ms. McPherson for two minutes, please.
10:35 a.m.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I think all of us in this room and on this committee are interested in finding ways that Canada can play a meaningful role. Raising this in this committee is one of those steps, of course. You've given us some very good indications with regard to immigration, with regard to sanctions and with regard to playing that role in peaceful negotiations.
I am going back to two things that I don't think we've touched on quite enough. Canada made a commitment. The Prime Minister made a commitment in 2017 to have more peacekeepers in the field. We have not met that commitment. We haven't even come close.
Also, you talked about the UAE fuelling this conflict with arms that have been delivered. We know that Canada sells arms to the UAE, despite the fact that it is a massive human rights abuser.
Ms. Teich, could you talk about peacekeeping and the provision of arms to the Eritrean government, and whether Canada can play a better role on that?
10:40 a.m.
International Human Rights Lawyer, United Tegaru Canada
Yes, it's a really strong point that Canada has not met its obligations in peacekeeping forces. That is a really interesting lever to pull and one that could be used to push the Government of Canada to do so and to meet this gap that's caused by distrust in the AU.
In terms of arms, there's the UAE, but there are countries like Turkey, with which Canada has a relationship that can be leveraged in bilateral and multilateral discussions. The arms piece is really important as well.
On that note, I would suggest, as I think I mentioned earlier, that Canada support a Security Council-led arms embargo, which was one of the recommendations put forth by Human Rights Watch.
10:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sameer Zuberi
Thank you to everyone here—the witnesses and the questioners. That concludes our time for this panel.
I want to thank Dr. Hayelom Kebede Mekonen for being with us today and for sharing such a powerful account. It will certainly be duly noted and our analysts have taken full note of that.
Also, thank you, Sarah Teich, international human rights lawyer from United Tegaru Canada, for being here.
Thanks to all the members for being here. We're going to be getting back together next week at 8:45 a.m.
On a personal note, I want to ask those in the committee and those caring about international human rights to see a motion that I'll be presenting on Wednesday in the House of Commons at 5:30. I invite you to look at that. It's motion 62, which is around the Uighurs.
We'll leave it at that. I hope everybody has a good and restful weekend. Thank you for being strong and for advocating for a better world and for human rights.
The meeting is adjourned.