Mr. Speaker, on this day in 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
This anniversary, known as Human Rights Day, reminds us of our common commitment to a better world. This reminder is particularly relevant in a time of crisis when the pace of events leaves little time for reflection.
I am proud of how the people of Canada have responded in the aftermath of September 11. We have refused to allow fear to overwhelm our longstanding commitment to human rights. Canadians joined the Prime Minister in condemning racially motivated attacks and rejected attempts to portray this conflict as a clash between religions. We recognize that the people of Afghanistan are not the enemy and we have responded generously to meet the need for humanitarian assistance.
Our sense of compassion, our respect for diversity, our belief in justice and our embrace of human rights at home and abroad, these are the values that define us.