Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition signed by members of the Cambodian community in the riding of Honoré‑Mercier in Montreal.
The 20th Francophonie Summit will be held in Phnom Penh in November. The petitioners note that this event will draw international attention to Cambodia. They believe that this is an opportunity for member states of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie to tangibly advance human rights and democracy.
They call upon the Government of Canada to use its participation in the summit, as well as its discussions with Cambodian authorities, to pursue four objectives: secure the release of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience; encourage the protection of civil society and freedom of the press; promote the restoration of genuine political pluralism; and combat transnational crime and ensure accountability.