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Period: to
Canada's participation and efforts with the United Nations since the end of WW2
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Initial drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Commissioned: 1946
Drafted: 1947-1948 John Peters Humphrey, a Canadian and recently appointed Director of the Division of Human Rights at the United nations, was asked to help draft the declaration as one of 18 writers. He became the principal drafter of the initial draft. -
The Suez Crisis
• Egyptian president, Abdul Nasser nationalizes the oil pipeline in Egypt
• Had been run by the French, England was a major shareholder in the company
• Legal but not favourable for the French and English
• Wanted to go to war/strike Egypt
• Lester B. Person suggests the French and English enter as peacekeepers
• Turned down
• Suggests a peacekeeping force without ant French or British troops
• Accepted idea November 4th 1956
• Became the first ever peacekeeping mission
• October 1957 Lester B. -
Canada’s Participation in 7 National Conventions Part 1
Convention for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination:
• Approved in December 21st 1965, went into effect January 4th 1969
• Committee that monitors reports from countries and their steps to eradicate racial discrimination
• Check and act on early warning situations that could become large and dangerous if not interrupted
• Focuses on indigenous and other racial rights
• Meet twice a year for 3 week sessions
• Ensures the rights in Universal Declaration of Human Rights are being offered -
Canada's Participation in 7 National Conventions Part 2
International Convention on Civil and Political Rights:
• Adopted December 16th 1966, entered into effect on March 23rd 1976
• Right to self-determination
• Own, trade and dispose of property freely
• Right to life, liberty, equality, freedom, being treated as innocent until proven guilty, privacy, be a person
• Freedom of thought, religion, opinion, expression, assembly, choose who they will marry
• Forbids torture, slavery, propaganda advocating war or hatred based on race, religion etc. -
Canada's Participation in 7 National Conventions Part 3
International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights:
• Adopted by the U.N. General Assembly December 16th 1976, entered into effect on January 3rd 1976
• Canada is one of 160 countries who signed.
• Right to self-determination (freely choose political status)
• No discrimination against race, gender, religion etc.
• Favourable working conditions including social security and insurance, maternity/paternity leave, adequate standard of living, education, culture -
Canada's Participation in 7 National Conventions Part 4
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women:
• Adopted December 18th 1979, entered into force on September 3rd 1981
• Gender Equality
• Take all measures to ensure the end of gender based discrimination
• Modify social and cultural patterns to eliminate prejudice
• Supress all forms of female exploitation including trafficking and prostitution -
Canada's Participation in 7 National Conventions Part 5
Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment:
• Adopted December 10th 1984, entered into force on June 26th 1987
• No torture to obtain confession
• Create laws to avoid torture being used
• Other people telling you to use torture does not count as an excuse -
The International Criminal Court
• Created at the Rome Conference
• June 15th-July 17th 1998
• Entered into force on July 1st 2002
For major offences against the international community; this includes:
• Genocide
• Crimes against humanity
• War crimes
Canadian Phillip Kusch is a Judge of the ICC and was elected as President of the Court; he was elected in February 2003 to the ICC and is still serving as the President. -
The Global Peace and Security Fund (GPSF)
• Created to aid victims of conflict, natural disasters and fragile countries in a timely and efficient manner.
• Targeted mostly at Sudan in addition to Afghanistan and Haiti on a smaller scale
• Canadian movement in accordance to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN
• Includes three programs:
1. Global Peace Operations Program (GPOP)
2. Global Peace and Security Program (GPSP)
3. Human Security Program (HSP) -
Canada's Participation in 7 National Conventions Part 6
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:
• Equality and empowerment, especially for women and children who are often harassed for their appearance
• Respect
• Accessibility
• Participation in society
• To raise awareness and acceptance in the community and nation -
Canada's Participation in 7 National Conventions Part 7
Convention on the Rights of a Child:
• Ensures children are given the right to a name, nationality, survival, education, health care, safety
• Freedom of expression, speech, and to stay with their parents
Right to make decisions about their future to the maximum extent possible for their age
