Today, Global Affairs Canada issued the following statement:“Two years have passed since the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights released a landmark assessment, detailing grave human rights violations in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. The assessment describes serious human rights violations that have been committed in Xinjiang, and notes that the extent of arbitrary and discriminatory detention of Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic minorities may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity.
“We, Canada and the undersigned Diplomatic Missions, join together once again as Diplomats for Equality to express our solidarity and support for two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and all other queer persons in Canada and around the world.
The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, and the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, today issued the following statement: “Today, we celebrate the 33rd anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. Ukraine continues to bravely defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence from Russia’s aggression.
The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, today issued the following statement: “Today, we recognize the courage and resilience of humanitarian workers who help communities around the world respond to extreme weather events, emergencies and armed conflicts. This year’s World Humanitarian Day theme of #ActForHumanity underscores the critical importance of facilitating aid access, protecting humanitarian workers and reducing the suffering of civilians.
“The undersigned countries, gathered in Santo Domingo de Guzmán, make a firm call for good sense and sanity in Venezuela. At this critical moment for Venezuela and the region, all social and political actors must exercise maximum restraint in their public actions.
It has been 3 years since the Taliban took over Afghanistan. During this time, 2 decades of gains in democracy, human rights and education have eroded in the country and for its people. The treatment of women and girls by the Taliban is nothing short of horrifying. The egregious violations of women’s and girls’ human rights have led to restrictions on their freedom of movement and dress as well as their access to education, health services and justice, along with their ability to work. Women and girls have become prisoners in their homes and communities and have little hope for a brighter future.
The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, today issued the following statement on the final results of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s fifth administrative review of anti-dumping and countervailing duties on certain Canadian softwood lumber products:
Today, on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs; the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion and International Trade and Economic Development; and the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, issued the following statement from the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people:
Canada supports a peaceful way forward in the resolution of the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh. In this regard, we welcome the inauguration of a new interim government, led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus. This is the first step in restoring peace, to pave the way for free and fair elections and democratic governance.
