[R-G] By giving unquestioning support to Israel, Canada has destroyed its reputation for impartiality - Amnesty International

[Sid Shniad]

Vancouver Sun                                                                                                     February 1, 2009 



Canadians not always good guys: Amnesty 



Amnesty Internation Canada’s secretary general argues that Canada’s unquestioning support for Israel with respect to human rights issues regarding Israel and Palestine are a sign that the Harper government has abandoned previous efforts to remain impartial 



By Louisa Taylor, Ottawa Citizen                                           



OTTAWA — Canadians have long prided themselves on being the good guys when it comes to protecting human rights at home and abroad, but that’s no longer always the case, says Alex Neve, secretary general of Amnesty International Canada. 



“Canada has started to be a problem with regard to some human rights issues and has in fact started to get in the way of protection,” said Neve, citing as an example Canada’s “aggressive opposition” to the 2007 adoption of a United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Canada was one of only four countries to vote against the measure. 



Under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the Canadian government “set out to block and defeat” the declaration, says Neve. “Other countries can’t believe they saw that kind of behaviour from Canada and it has significantly set back and undermined our authority on the world stage.” 



Neve was speaking in advance of a speech he’s making at the University of Ottawa Monday as part of its International Development Week activities. The theme of the week is Development: A Basic Human Right? and featured speakers include former minister of Foreign Affairs Lloyd Axworthy, Council of Canadians chair Maude Barlow and journalist Alexandre Trudeau. 



Neve says he was asked to reflect on the state of human rights protection in the world today, a timely topic a month after the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 



“There is a great deal to celebrate and the world has come forward leaps and bounds from that time, in spite of horrific tragedies,” such as Rwanda and Darfur, said Neve. 



Canada’s place at the forefront of human rights protection begins with the 1948 declaration itself, which was drafted in large part by Canadian legal scholar John Humphrey. Since then Canada has been a leader on many fronts, including the protection of child soldiers, the treaty to ban land mines and the creation of the International Criminal Court. 



Neve cites former Conservative prime minister Brian Mulroney’s “strong leadership” in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa and on initiatives regarding children’s rights as evidence the shift in Canada’s reputation can’t be explained by blaming one political party or another. But he points to Canada’s current position “of complete support of Israel with respect to the very volatile human rights issues that come up regarding Israel and Palestine” as a sign that the Harper government has abandoned previous efforts to remain impartial. 



“That has damaged our reputation for principled leadership and objectivity regarding human rights,” said Neve. “There’s no question it has been since this government took power that we have seen a lot of these changes in policy and positions . . . We need to make it clear that’s not Canada’s tradition and Canadians want to see a return to principled leadership.” 



Ottawa Citizen