Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak on this very important debate today. The subject matter is of course appalling and emotionally draining. It focuses on the use of rape as a weapon of war.
I want to thank my colleague from Ottawa Centre and ask him a specific question about what more Canada could have done. I am deeply troubled by the fact that the United Nations has two, perhaps three, times asked Canada if we were willing to send peacekeepers to assist in that area.
They were specific. They did not ask for hundreds of men or even dozens of our armed forces members, male or female. They asked for two or three people, particularly at the general level, who could help with the pan-African force that is part of the UN peacekeeping mission.
We declined. We did not send anyone to assist in the effort in the Congo even though millions of people have died there.
Does my friend have any comments on that?