Mr. Speaker, this week, Canada was named as a top defender of human rights in the international arena.
UN Watch, a respected NGO, released its assessment entitled, “Human Rights Scorecard: Canada at the UN 2006-2007”. This is an assessment of Canada's record on human rights and democratic values at the United Nations Human Rights Council and the General Assembly.
Canada was singled out for taking a leadership role in the new 47 member Human Rights Council founded in June to replace its dysfunctional predecessor, the human rights commission.
Spokesman, Hillel Neuer, told MPs that “Canada led the resolution that holds Iran to account for its policies of torture, arbitrary arrest and suppression”. Canada spoke out about abuses in Belarus, Burma, North Korea and Uzbekistan but we were missing in action when it came to China's violation of civil, political and religious rights.
As a middle power, Canada can play a significant role as a voice for the suffering people of the world. We are making a difference but the continuing violence, hatred and suppression of political and religious expression remains a huge challenge to all nations and governments that value freedom, peace and democratic empowerment.