Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Yes, because these individuals, Canadian nationals, have been subject to no legal process for their detention. They are being held arbitrarily in conditions that we believe meet the threshold for torture and inhuman and degrading treatment. That is not allowable. Whether it's a state or a non-state actor, that is not allowable under international humanitarian law, if we apply Protocol 2 or Common Article 3 of the four Geneva Conventions, and it's clearly inconsistent with international human rights law.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Canada and all of the other 57 states that have failed to repatriate their nationals are in clear breach of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Committee on the Rights of the Child has explicitly found on this issue, not specific to Canada but in relation to other nationals, that the continued arbitrary detention of children in these camps is a breach of the convention.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I want to make two remarks to the questions from the MP. The first is about the uses of technology. The United Nations special procedures remain deeply concerned about the use of surveillance and data technology in northeast Syria, including its application to Canadian and other third country nationals.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you for the opportunity. I will briefly state that my mandate has been in direct public communication with the Turkish government on its terrorism legislation, but most recently, in the last four months, on its adoption of countering terrorism finance legislation. This legislation is being used to directly target civil society, human rights defenders and those who dissent from the government.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Are you asking me?

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Do you mean in Turkey or more broadly?

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Specifically—and I'm happy to share the UN's communications on this issue, because the letter is public—the target is civil society. The targets are dissenters. The targets are those who disagree with the government. We have raised these issues not only with Turkey but also with the FATF, the Financial Action Task Force.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  If you can hear me, I'm happy to—

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  We have a significant number of countries making extraordinary efforts to ensure the return of their nationals, and I have first-hand, with my team—

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Is that better? Can you hear me now? Do you want me to speak more or less loudly?

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  It's right here. It's in my— Can you hear me, Chair, or is it just—

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Chair, do you want me to proceed so at least you have a record of our country's efforts, or do you want me to hold?

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you, MP Chiu. There are a number of countries—

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Good afternoon. I will just make the usual disclaimer that UN officials make at the beginning of such evidence, which is that my attendance before the standing committee is in my capacity as special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism.

Foreign Affairs committee  We haven't received a response. The government has 60 days to respond to the letter. The list of the countries is public and the press statement is also public. I really would say to Canada that it has 60 days, so use those days well. Use them to action and to figure out what it can do in this circumstance.