Canadian Statements
Statement delivered by His Excellency Henri-Paul Normandin, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations, to the 3rd Committee of the 63rd General Assembly, on Item 64: Promotion and protection of human rights
NEW YORK, October 28, 2008
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Thank you Mr. President,
Throughout this past year, the international community has been celebrating an extraordinary milestone - the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Universal Declaration represents the first global expression of fundamental rights and freedoms which belong to all human beings and forms the cornerstone of the international human rights system. The Universal Declaration has been translated into 360 different languages - a testament to the universal values it embodies which transcend all cultures and traditions - and stands as an affirmation of our common aspirations.
We owe our deepest gratitude to the drafters of the Universal Declaration. A group of men and women representing all regions and legal systems, it is because of their vision, their unity of purpose and their sheer determination, that we celebrate today this commitment to human dignity, equality and justice. Canada is particularly proud of the role played by Canadian John Peters Humphrey, who as the first director of the Human Rights Division in the United Nations Secretariat, produced the blueprint for the Universal Declaration.
The human rights tenets enshrined in the Universal Declaration belong to each and every person, and individuals strive to translate the vision of the Declaration’s drafters into practice. Courageous advocates worldwide have devoted their lives to seeing the full potential of the Declaration realised, by working tirelessly to ensure that states live up to their human rights obligations. Regrettably, many have suffered atrocious human rights abuses and have even lost their lives in this noble pursuit.
In Canada, the John Humphrey Freedom Award was established by the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development, known as Rights & Democracy, to honour an individual or organisation for exceptional achievement in the promotion of human rights and democratic development. Recipients come from around the world, and frequently work on the frontline, under conditions hostile to the recognition and application of fundamental human rights and freedoms.
This coming December 10, on International Human Rights Day, the 2008 John Humphrey Freedom Award will be presented to Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights. This organisation has played a leading role in the promotion and protection of human rights in Zimbabwe by providing legal representation to victims of state-sponsored abuses and persecution, including human rights defenders. Representatives of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights often speak out against human rights abuses at great personal risk. Since March 2008, the government of Zimbabwe has increasingly turned to repressive and even violent means to suppress criticism and opposition. Several lawyers representing Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights have had to flee the country or go into hiding. Staff members continue to endure arrests, detentions, intimidation and assaults. Meanwhile, human rights abuses continue to take place with impunity, and few perpetrators are brought to justice. With its fearless commitment to human dignity and the rule of law, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights brings recourse and hope of justice to victims of human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.
The Iranian journalist and writer, Mr. Akbar Ganji was honoured with the 2007 John Humphrey Freedom Award. Mr. Ganji endured six years in prison after exposing the complicity of Iran’s government in a series of murders of political dissidents and intellectuals in 1998. While in prison, Mr. Ganji endured torture and solitary confinement and staged hunger strikes in protest of his detention. Mr. Ganji continues to speak out against the deterioration of human rights in his country, including the execution of juveniles accused of crimes, the repression of labour rights, the oppression of women, the discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities, and the arbitrary arrest and imprisonment of government critics. Mr. Ganji has demonstrated a courageous dedication to human rights and is a source of inspiration to his fellow Iranians, who desire a life free of repressive actions and injustice.
The 2006 John Humphrey Freedom Award was presented to Ms. Su Su Nway, the first Burmese national to win a legal challenge against the use of forced labour, a longstanding and systematic practice of the reigning military regime. Sadly, since her 2005 victory, Ms. Nway has been arrested and detained by the governing junta on three separate occasions. She is currently incarcerated in Insein prison, a jail infamous for its inhumane conditions, after having displayed an anti-government banner near UN Human Rights Envoy Mr. Paulo Pinheiro’s Rangoon hotel in November 2007. Since July 2008, Ms. Nway has been placed in solitary confinement and denied family visits. Despite having a heart condition, she has not received adequate medical care. Ms. Nway's brave struggle for human rights and her selfless commitment to justice, have earned her the name “Courageous Su Su Nway” among her people.
These John Humphrey Freedom Award recipients are but a few examples of how individuals strive for dignity and justice over tyranny. There are thousands more. As an international community, we have a responsibility to highlight and address situations of human rights violations to ensure that these individuals are not isolated in their pursuit; to demonstrate our solidarity and appreciation for their efforts; and to allow them to carry out their noble work without personal risk of harm.
Mr. President,
Let us also underline that in addition to promoting human rights internationally, Mr. John Humphrey also made a lasting contribution on the advancement of human rights in Canada. Following his tenure with the United Nations, John Humphrey resumed teaching at McGill University, and remained extremely active in domestic human rights concerns. He was a member of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women, which played a major role in improving the condition of women in Canada, by recommending changes to eliminate sexual inequality. In addition, John Humphrey was also instrumental in founding Amnesty International Canada and well as launching the Canadian Human Rights Foundation, now known as Equitas.
Mr. President,
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is more than a source of inspiration or a set of lofty goals. It represents a common commitment made by states to their peoples. It is, after all, States which bear the primary responsibility to act in conformity with the Universal Declaration’s purposes and principles and to ensure the full implementation of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Sixty years later, the relevance of the values enshrined in the Universal Declaration remain undiminished, especially as we address contemporary challenges. The international community has a responsibility to call States to account for their shortcomings with respect to human rights. Let us continue to work to ensure that for the millions who are still denied the full realization of their human rights that the Universal Declaration embodies becomes more than aspiration, but a reality.
