Indifference Holding Back the Government?

OTTAWA--The Green Party of Canada calls on the Canadian government to quickly ratify the Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). March 30, 2009 marked the second anniversary of Canada's participation in the signing ceremony, which took place at the United Nations.

Canada, which has been traditionally seen as a leader in human rights, is now being encouraged at UN meetings to move more quickly in the process of ratification of this important convention.  This encouragement was given as part of the new "Universal Periodic Review" (UPR) of Human Rights, undertaken by the Human Rights Council.

“Canada’s international reputation depends on our government taking leadership on issues like the rights of people living with disabilities,” said Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada. "This is a group of people who historically have little political clout.  They need parliamentarians to speak up on their behalf and to ensure a timely response to ratifying the Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.”

Last June, the House of Commons unanimously passed a motion in support of ratification of the CRPD, demonstrating that all of Canada's parliamentarians are prepared to have this country abide by the standards set in the CRPD.  However, now with ratification still delayed after two years, the disabled community has been given excuses that it is necessary to follow typical Canadian procedures, with an emphasis on Federal, Provincial, Territorial discussions that take place behind closed doors.

Joe Foster, Green Party Human Rights Critic, says "If 50 other countries, including China and Chile, have ratified the agreement, what is holding back our government, other than indifference?"  

This is not the first time that Canada has been criticized for not being strong enough on human rights by the United Nations Human Rights Council, a 47 nation peer review group.  This council has recommended 70 actions that Canada should take in order to improve our human rights record.  One of these possible actions was the endorsement of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which passed in 2007 with Canada being one of only four countries in opposition.

“The Green Party of Canada has long advocated that Canada take up a position of leadership on human rights, protecting the rights of any disenfranchised group of people in order to make our country stronger and to redeem our international reputation,” said Mr. Foster.

 
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 Contact:
Michael Bernard
Communications Officer
Green Party of Canada
613-562-4916 ext. 244
(c) 613-614-4916
michael.bernard@greenparty.ca