Posted on 09 December 2008
Ottawa, (December 9th, 2008) – Today, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Prevention of Genocide and other Crimes against Humanity (the Group) commemorates the 60th anniversaries of the United Nations’ Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (the Convention) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
On December 9th, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 260 recognizing that, throughout history, genocide has inflicted great losses on humanity. The signatory states affirmed that genocide is a crime under international law and agreed to take action to prevent and to punish this affront to humanity.
The Convention came into effect on January 12th, 1951, and since that time over 140 countries have ratified the multilateral treaty. Canada was one of the 42 countries to have originally signed the convention.
On December 10th, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (the Declaration). This historic act called upon all states to recognize that all human beings have the right to life, liberty and security.
The Convention specifically obliges Canada to take action to prevent genocide and bring to justice the perpetrators of genocide. With 132 member states, the Declaration compels Canada and other members to protect and preserve the dignity and security of every individual.
The serious and systematic violations to international human rights law in Darfur, the humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the human rights abuses in Burma/Myanmar illustrate that the fight against human rights violations remains an all-encompassing political issue and an ever-pressing necessity today.
In commemoration of these 60th anniversaries, the Group urges the Government of Canada to do all that it can to prevent and protect civilian populations from genocide, crimes against humanity, and the violation of their human rights. Under this convention, Canada has the responsibility to protect victims of genocide when a state is unwilling or unable to do so itself.
Background on the All-Party Parliamentary Group
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Prevention of Genocide and other Crimes Against Humanity was created in December 2006, to ensure that Members of the House of Commons and Senators have timely access to the information and resources they need to identify and respond to situations of concern before crimes against humanity take place. The Group is currently chaired by the Honourable Yoine Goldstein, Senator and has one vice-chair from each party. They are: Patrick Brown, MP (Conservative); Johanne Deschamps, MP (Bloc Québecois); Paul Dewar, MP (NDP); and the Honourable Marlene Jennings, MP (Liberal). The Honourable Romeo Dallaire, Senator sits as an ex-officio member.
For more information please contact:
Mallory Mroz
All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Prevention of Genocide and other Crimes Against Humanity
Groupe parlementaire multipartite pour la prévention du génocide et d’autres crimes contre l’humanité
Tel.: (613) 944-3454
Fax: (613) 943-3631
Email / Courriel:
prev-gen@sen.parl.gc.ca
www.preventiongenocide.org