March 15, 2006
No. 22
Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay welcomed today’s decision by the UN General
Assembly to establish the Human Rights Council to replace the existing Commission on
Human Rights.
“Canada is pleased that the international community has decided to move ahead on the
path of reform and make the Human Rights Council a reality,” said Minister MacKay. “I
have noted before that the resolution we adopted today, while not perfect, provides a
sound foundation for the establishment of an effective Human Rights Council. But our
task is just beginning. We must now build on this foundation to ensure that the Council,
in its day-to-day work, is truly effective in protecting human rights and that it makes a
positive difference in the lives of people around the world.”
There are significant innovations that will come about with the establishment of the
Council, including regular meetings throughout the year to better respond to urgent
situations and the establishment of a periodic review mechanism through which the
human rights records of all UN member states will be considered. The Council will have
improved membership through enhanced elections procedures and a mechanism for
removing UN member states that commit serious human rights violations. In addition,
the Council preserves the actual strengths of the Commission on Human Rights,
including the system of independent rapporteurs and the participation of NGOs.
The establishment of the Human Rights Council reflects the importance attached to
human rights by world leaders at the UN 2005 World Summit last September. Human
rights were then recognized as one of the three pillars of the UN’s work, along with
security and development. The Council will build on the important accomplishments of
the Commission on Human Rights, established in 1946. Key among these
accomplishments are the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and major treaties
that set international standards.
“Canada will work closely with all UN member states, including the United States, to
ensure that the Human Rights Council fulfills its critically important mission, namely, the
international promotion and protection of human rights,” added Minister MacKay. “In
particular, Canada will work to ensure that the Council is able to respond to urgent
human rights situations and that it maintains a focus on the implementation of the rights
that belong to all citizens.”
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