Canada commends China on human rights (kind of)
I got this email from Lawrence Cannon’s (minister of foreign affairs) office today. If my memory is correct, this is the first time this Tory government commends (well, kinda) China on human rights and proactively releases such statement to the media. I’m still disappointed that Canada did not condemn a series of obvious terror attacks in Xinjiang during the Summer Olympic last year. Even Bush’s administration released a very strong statement then.
But I guess this government finally realizes the importance of being collaborative with, not combative against China; the importance of engaging China, not isolating it. While the Tory government remains more interested in diversifying trades with EU, India and Latin America, its reluctance to shake hands with China has definitely softened in recent months, though the following statement reveals this government still has a lot to learn about China’s real situation.
February 9, 2009
Statement of Canada
China
Thank you Mr. President
Canada applauds China‘s success in improving living standards in the last 30 years of reform and opening up policy.
Canada hopes that China’s National Action Plan on Human Rights will lead to an early ratification of the ICCPR.
Canada recommends China accelerate legislative and judicial reforms, particularly on death penalty and administrative detention, to be in compliance with the ICCPR.
Canada welcomes Chinese measures to reduce immediate death sentences, reserving them for “exceptionally grave” crimes, and reinstating Supreme People‘s Court authority to review death sentences. Canada recommends China reduce the number of crimes carrying the death penalty and regularly publish detailed statistics on death penalty use.
Canada recommends China abolish all forms of administrative detention, including “Re-Education Through Labour”. Canada recommends China eliminate abuse of psychiatric committal.
Canada recommends China provide those held on state security charges with all fundamental legal safeguards, including access to counsel, public trial and sentencing, and eligibility for sentence reduction and parole.
Canada is deeply concerned about reports of arbitrary detention of ethnic minorities members, including Tibetans, Uyghurs and Mongols, as well as religious believers, including Falun Gong practitioners, without information about their charges, their location and wellbeing.
We recommend China respond positively to outstanding requests made by several UN Special Procedures, including the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, to visit China, and to facilitate an early visit by the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
We look forward to continuing our cooperation with China in the field of human rights.
Canada thanks China for its presentation and support for the UPR process.
Here’s the link to Universal Periodic Review on China by UN’s Human Rights Council.
Tags: Canada, Canada-China, China, diplomacy, human rightsRelated posts
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[...] The feds are probably preparing the stage for bettering relationship with China lately, including a recent FM Lawrence Cannon’s statement to commend China’s improvements on human rights. [...]