Hélène Laverdière

[World Red Cross Red Crescent Day, May 8th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, today we celebrate World Red Cross Red Crescent Day and recognize the critical work of the international Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The movement, the largest humanitarian network in the world, is dedicated to preventing and alleviating human suffering in warfare and in emergencies, such as epidemics, floods and earthquakes.

This World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day marks the 50th anniversary of their seven fundamental principles of action. These principles—humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality—are the basis of the movement's decisions and actions around the world.

Today we recognize the dedication of the international Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and it national societies, including the Canadian Red Cross, of course.

I commend them on their work to protect the life and dignity of those in need.

[Foreign Affairs, May 7th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, three vigils are being held today and tomorrow to mark the anniversary of Raif Badawi's sentencing.

It has been a year since Mr. Badawi was sentenced to 1,000 lashes for blogging about social issues. More than 200 prominent Quebeckers are calling on the Prime Minister to intensify diplomatic efforts so that Mr. Badawi may finally rejoin his family in Sherbrooke. We have heard enough excuses.

Is the Prime Minister prepared to personally call for the release of Raif Badawi?

[Iran Accountability Week, May 5th, 2015]

Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague again.

Freedom of the press is absolutely fundamental in our democracy and our system of accountability. The Conservative government has developed a strange relationship with the press in Canada. However, things here are nowhere near as bad as they are in countries like Iran and Egypt and in far too many other countries in which the media are controlled or gagged.

This freedom is essential to democracy and the trust people have in their institutions and their own democracy. When that trust is lacking, we inevitably end up with very serious problems, not to mention the ethical problems that arise when freedom of expression, and particularly freedom of the press, is violated.

[Iran Accountability Week, May 5th, 2015]

Mr. Chair, I would like to once again thank my colleague for her question.

In theory, Canada could play a role and work more actively to advance human rights in Iran. Unfortunately, in a way, Canada pulled the rug out from under its own feet by putting an end to its diplomatic relations with Iran, since this prevents us from establishing a dialogue. As I always say, establishing a dialogue does not mean that we agree on everything. It means that we are talking and that we are talking specifically about the issues on which we do not agree.

The British embassy was attacked. The British government closed its embassy but it did not sever diplomatic relations so that it would have another avenue for putting pressure on Iran, in addition to sanctions and other measures.

In the absence of that, civil society does end up picking up the slack. I mentioned Amnesty International in my speech. Yesterday I had the opportunity to contribute to the campaign of a young man in Laurier—Sainte-Marie. He is 11 years old and is collecting donations. He is going to bungee jump to promote international human rights. Canadians as young as 11 are getting involved. We know that Canadians think it is important for human rights to be respected around the world and in Canada.

I cannot help but mention that today we concluded the debate on Bill C-51 and that a number of my constituents think this bill could potentially violate Canadians' human rights.

[Iran Accountability Week, May 5th, 2015]

Mr. Chair, I would like to thank my colleague for her question and also take this opportunity to point out all of the extraordinary work that she does too. She is always present and she is interested in the issues. How many times have we had discussions on various subjects? I would like to thank her.

Verification is absolutely essential. With regard to the P5+1, if anyone knows about nuclear issues, they do. They are working on very important verification systems, even though some of the details have yet to be finalized.

Rather doing very little other than shouting from the sidelines, I would like to see Canada get involved and contribute to this verification process. That is essential, and it would provide us with some hope of making a region more peaceful and safe for everyone and all of our allies.

[Iran Accountability Week, May 5th, 2015]

Mr. Chair, I imagine that the hon. member across the way, who is so skeptical about diplomacy, is probably alluding to the protocol that ensures that the International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors have unrestricted access to the site.

This protocol is part of the P5+1 agreement with Iran. By concluding this agreement with the P5+1, Iran accepted the procedures and principles involved.

[Iran Accountability Week, May 5th, 2015]

Mr. Chair, I am hearing some very strange comments from the other side of the House, comments that are beneath the dignity of this House.

Getting back to this agreement, of course we have to be extremely prudent. Nobody is denying that. We cannot rely on words; we need to rely on actions. As Barack Obama said, this deal is not based on trust; it is based on unprecedented verification. As William Hague, Great Britain's former secretary of state and foreign secretary, said, it is possible to work with Iran and through diplomacy address what appear to be intractable problems. That is the key. When it comes to diplomacy, negotiations are never simple and never easy, but more often than not, they are the only true and long-lasting solution.

I would like to give an example that may not appear to be directly related. I want to talk about the Central African Republic. We learned yesterday that armed groups in the Central African Republic have agreed to release all the children in their ranks and end child recruitment. It is estimated that between 6,000 and 10,000 children have been used as either child soldiers or sex slaves, and all of them have been or will be released. This is huge, and it is thanks to the efforts of UNICEF. That organization did not simply say that those are the bad guys and refuse to enter into dialogue with them. Clearly, it does not agree with what those armed groups are doing, but its representatives sat down and negotiated with them anyway.

Today I spoke with someone from UNICEF who was very proud of what they have achieved. He said that nothing can be done if we do not negotiate. Despite their utter condemnation of the activities of those armed groups, the UNICEF representatives took the time to sit down with them. The final outcome is that between 6,000 and 10,000 children will be released.

A parallel can be drawn with P5+1. Those people did not just say that the Iranians were the bad guys. They sat down, imposed conditions, introduced verification and made sure that they created a regime to move away from any potential nuclear threat from Iran, thereby making the region safer and more peaceful for everyone.

The same is true for human rights. We can achieve things through diplomacy, pressure and sanctions. Those methods are useful.

Through sanctions, dialogue and pressure, we will really be able to help the people of Iran in their aspirations for freedom, peace and democracy.

[Iran Accountability Week, May 5th, 2015]

Mr. Chair, I think we all agree that the human rights situation in Iran is truly appalling.

There are many problems. There are repeated violations of freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of expression and freedom of association. There are also violations of democratic norms and principles. The justice system is not working as it should in a democratic society and there have been many reports of torture.

Many of my colleagues spoke this evening about the death penalty. We should all oppose capital punishment at a very fundamental level, particularly in Iran, because unfortunately, that country has one of the highest execution rates.

These are difficulties that all Iranians face. However, in addition to being denied their fundamental rights, some targeted groups face other more specific difficulties simply because of who they are. I would like to give three examples. The first involves homosexuals because we know that sexual relations between consenting adults can carry the death penalty in Iran. That is completely unacceptable. Second, we often hear about the Baha'i minority, which has suffered widespread discrimination, as have all of the minorities, but there is also the Ahwazi Arab minority. According to Amnesty International, last week, over 75 members of the Ahwazi Arab minority, some of whom were children, were arrested by groups of masked men affiliated with Iran’s security and intelligence services simply because of their perceived political views. They were arrested even though they were peacefully expressing their political opinions. Now, no one knows the whereabouts or legal status of some of these individuals or whether charges will be brought against them.

The third group I want to talk about is the women because they too are victims of systemic discrimination. I will read a lengthy quote from a recent report by Amnesty International, which is doing extraordinary work on the ground. We should all applaud their work. In my opinion, this excerpt sums up the entire situation best:

A woman’s testimony in court is valued at half that of a man in legal proceedings and reparations paid for killing or causing injury to a woman are half those payable for same harms to a man.

In short, a woman is worth half what a man is worth. I will continue.

The age of criminal responsibility for girls is just under nine years old but just under 15 years for a boy. Rape within marriage and domestic violence are not recognized as criminal offences. Engaging in lesbian sex is punishable by 100 lashes with a fourth time conviction resulting in the death penalty. Early and forced marriages are common with 41,226 girls between the ages of 10 and 14 getting married, according to the 2013-2014 annual report by the National Organization for Civil Registration, and at least 201 girls under the age of 10. At some universities women are barred from studying certain subjects, ranging from engineering to English literature, as a result of quotas that seek to reverse advances made in the number and proportion of female university students. They also face restrictions on watching sports in public stadiums.

There are currently bills under consideration in Iran that would limit women's access to a range of reproductive services, including family planning, of course. Naturally, we are still very concerned about the human rights situation in Iran. I have to emphasize that the situation is not improving. It actually seems to be getting worse.

Another major concern is Iran's nuclear program. At least in that area there seems to be some hope since the agreement between Iran and the P5+1.

[Government Contracts, May 4th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, this is utter nonsense. Not only have many of the IT contracts for Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs gone way over budget, but additional costs are often higher than the initial contract amount. For example, there is a contract for $1.13 to which $770,000 was added.

What is a contract for $1.13? Is that a contract for a pack of gum? Can the minister tell us if this is abuse, favouritism or just Conservative mismanagement?

[Ongoing Situation in Ukraine, April 29th, 2015]

Mr. Chair, I do not think I have enough time to give all of the examples.

Sometimes during conferences I attend abroad, a foreign representative will ask me if I think people still have confidence in Canada. I know this goes back a few years now, but the fact that Canada was not re-elected to the Security Council is telling. The people who supported us before no longer support us because we have a black-and-white approach to diplomacy, with the good people on one side and the bad people on the other.

That is not how diplomacy works, and now we are seeing the results.