My presentation this time is on behalf of myself. For the past 25 years, I have worked with refugees and newcomers to Canada, and from the standpoint of human rights, and as a mother and a grandmother who wants to leave a better world to my children and grandchildren, I'm speaking to you.
The WHO, the World Health Organization, constitution outlines the right to enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical, and mental health of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic, or social conditions. The right to health has also been enshrined in article 25 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which we are a signatory.
In Toronto, in 1966, article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights was signed, as well as various other international treaties to which Canada is a signatory.
In June of last year, UN experts voiced concern about the TPP's potential adverse impact on human rights. I join their call for human rights impact assessments to be done for the TPP, before the negotiations go any further. This panel also drew attention to the potential detrimental impact these treaties and agreements may have on the enjoyment of human rights, as enshrined in legally binding instruments, whether civil, cultural, economic, political, or social saying that their concerns relate to the right to life, food, water, sanitation, health, housing, education, science, culture, improved labour standards, an independent judiciary, a clean environment and the right not to be subjected to forced resettlement.
We, all of us, need to start a discussion and plan of action based on human rights, not corporate rights. I beg you, this agreement should not be ratified.