The United Nations Human Rights Committee has accused Canada of failing to take effective action on a range of issues, including missing and murdered Aboriginal women, political audits of charities, and the federal government's anti-terror legislation.
The report, published Thursday, is the first substantive review of the country’s human rights record under Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government.
“This should be seen as a wake-up call by governments and courts in Canada that increasingly serious violations of civil and political rights in Canada can no longer be tolerated,” said Canada Without Poverty president Harriett MacLachlan.
CWP is an Ottawa-based charity currently subject to an on-going audit of its political activities. The Canada Revenue Agency has been monitoring its activities for three years.
Under the subtitle “Freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association” in the report the UN group specifically addresses charity audits, and states concerns over the “level of apprehension within a broad sector of civil society about the State party’s current policies in the areas of political, social and human rights advocacy.”
The report is high-level recognition of the “mistreatment” of charities across the country, CWP said.
“These audits have resulted in mounting fear of losing charitable status, and therefore necessary funding sources, across the entire charitable sector,” said MacLachlan in a statement.
“Human rights in Canada are under assault, and the UN human rights committee noted that today.”
UN: Lack Of Bill C-51 Oversight Mechanisms Concerning
Criticisms voiced by Canadian civil rights groups over a contentious piece of anti-terrorism legislation were also echoed by the UNHRC in its report.
Citing the possibility sweeping changes made under Bill C-51, which became law last month, breaches the international covenant on civil and political rights, the committee recommended the government make revisions to ensure “adequate legal safeguards” are in place to protect Canadians’ rights.
“Bill C-51 creates under the Security of Canada Information Sharing Act, an increased sharing of information among federal government agencies on the basis of a very broad definition of activities that undermine the security of Canada which does not fully ensure that inaccurate or irrelevant information is shared,” the report states.
While acknowledging the federal government’s initiative to curtail threats of terrorism, the committee says more measures need to be taken to ensure open sharing of information across government and intelligence agencies do not result in human rights abuses.
Last month, the UN committee heard from a number of high-profile rights groups including Amnesty International Canada and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association about their concerns over Bill C-51, among other issues.
In its written submission, the CCLA outlined its concerns, saying Bill C-51 “radically alters CSIS’ powers” and how the government has “yet to clearly demonstrate” why the legislation is necessary.
With files from The Canadian Press
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The report, published Thursday, is the first substantive review of the country’s human rights record under Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government.
“This should be seen as a wake-up call by governments and courts in Canada that increasingly serious violations of civil and political rights in Canada can no longer be tolerated,” said Canada Without Poverty president Harriett MacLachlan.
CWP is an Ottawa-based charity currently subject to an on-going audit of its political activities. The Canada Revenue Agency has been monitoring its activities for three years.
Under the subtitle “Freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association” in the report the UN group specifically addresses charity audits, and states concerns over the “level of apprehension within a broad sector of civil society about the State party’s current policies in the areas of political, social and human rights advocacy.”
The report is high-level recognition of the “mistreatment” of charities across the country, CWP said.
“These audits have resulted in mounting fear of losing charitable status, and therefore necessary funding sources, across the entire charitable sector,” said MacLachlan in a statement.
“Human rights in Canada are under assault, and the UN human rights committee noted that today.”
UN: Lack Of Bill C-51 Oversight Mechanisms Concerning
Criticisms voiced by Canadian civil rights groups over a contentious piece of anti-terrorism legislation were also echoed by the UNHRC in its report.
Citing the possibility sweeping changes made under Bill C-51, which became law last month, breaches the international covenant on civil and political rights, the committee recommended the government make revisions to ensure “adequate legal safeguards” are in place to protect Canadians’ rights.
“Bill C-51 creates under the Security of Canada Information Sharing Act, an increased sharing of information among federal government agencies on the basis of a very broad definition of activities that undermine the security of Canada which does not fully ensure that inaccurate or irrelevant information is shared,” the report states.
While acknowledging the federal government’s initiative to curtail threats of terrorism, the committee says more measures need to be taken to ensure open sharing of information across government and intelligence agencies do not result in human rights abuses.
Last month, the UN committee heard from a number of high-profile rights groups including Amnesty International Canada and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association about their concerns over Bill C-51, among other issues.
In its written submission, the CCLA outlined its concerns, saying Bill C-51 “radically alters CSIS’ powers” and how the government has “yet to clearly demonstrate” why the legislation is necessary.
With files from The Canadian Press
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