Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08OTTAWA233
2008-02-14 19:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:
CANADA SEES "SOME ENCOURAGING SIGNS" IN UN HRC
how-toVZCZCXRO8510 PP RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHQU RUEHVC DE RUEHOT #0233/01 0451910 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 141910Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7312 INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1261 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0381
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 000233
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2018
TAGS: PHUM KUNR PREL CA
SUBJECT: CANADA SEES "SOME ENCOURAGING SIGNS" IN UN HRC
REF: OTTAWA 123
Classified By: Political MinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 000233
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2018
TAGS: PHUM KUNR PREL CA
SUBJECT: CANADA SEES "SOME ENCOURAGING SIGNS" IN UN HRC
REF: OTTAWA 123
Classified By: Political MinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
)
1. (C) Summary: According to Canadian Department of Foreign
Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) officials, the UN
Human Rights Council (HRC) remains a "work in progress," but
Canada has seen encouraging signs that it is maturing and
shifting its focus from institutional questions to specific
human rights issues. DFAIT officials highlighted especially
the HRC's work on Darfur and Burma, as well as its
establishment of a schedule and guidelines for Universal
Periodic Reviews (UPRs). They nonetheless commented on
problems inherited from previous UN Commission on Human
Rights, notably the unfair singling out of Israel. They also
noted that, with fewer members and typical bloc voting, other
HRC members can easily out-maneuver Canada. At the seventh
HRC session in March 2008, Canada will focus on renewing the
mandates of the special rapporteurs on freedom of expression
and violence against women. Canadian officials warmly
welcome input from and dialogue with U.S. counterparts on
human rights issues generally and on HRC issues specifically.
End summary.
GROWING FOCUS ON SPECIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES
--------------
2. (C) In testimony to the Standing Senate Committee on Human
Rights on February 11, DFAIT's Director General for Human
Security and Human Rights Adele Dion said that, while the UN
HRC is still a "work in progress," she had seen "some
encouraging signs," especially in the past six months. Dion
noted that the HRC is increasingly shifting its focus from
institutional questions to addressing specific "human rights
issues and situations where it matters most, namely, on the
ground." She stated that Canada nonetheless continues to
push for further improvements in HRC deliberations. DFAIT
Human Rights Section Deputy Director Robert Sinclair told
PolOff that Canada remains hopeful that the HRC will become
more proactive once it finalizes its internal mechanisms.
3. (U) Dion cited the HRC's work on Darfur and Burma at its
last session as evidence that the HRC is "maturing." She
described how the HRC's sixth session in September 2007 had
addressed the human rights situations in Darfur and held a
full debate on the interim report of the group of experts on
Darfur. She said that the HRC had taken "some fairly strong
stands," and, by handing the mandate to a special rapporteur,
had ensured that the HRC will continue its focus on the
issue. Dion also noted that the HRC had held a session on
Burma following to its crackdown on demonstrators, and
claimed that HRC pressure had led Burma's permission for a
HRC special rapporteur to visit the country -- his first
visit in six years.
UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW PROCESS HAS GREAT POTENTIAL
-------------- --------------
4. (U) Dion and Sinclair pointed to the adoption of a
schedule and guidelines for the UPR process as one of the
HRC's most significant achievements to date, and noted that
Canada had been a leading proponent. According to Dion, the
UPR process, which should begin in April 2008, has the
potential to help the HRC be more even-handed than the
Commission had been, since the process will force the HRC to
assess all countries on a regular rotating basis. She also
stated that Canada believes that, through the UPR process,
the HRC will become more proactive in its work, since it will
continually review and make recommendations on countries'
Qcontinually review and make recommendations on countries'
human rights records.
5. (U) Amnesty International Canada Secretary General Alex
Neve separately told the Standing Senate Committee on Human
Rights that the HRC's UPR process has the potential to help
it avoid claims of selectivity and double standards
associated with its predecessor. Neve noted, however, that
three HRC representatives from different countries will be
responsible for the oversight of each review, and in order
for the process to be successful, these representatives must
be committed to the fairness of the process and that HRC
members should set "best practices" from the beginning.
BLOC VOTING
--------------
6. (U) Dion noted that Canada continues to face the same kind
of regional "bloc voting" in the HRC as in the previous
Commission. Other HRC members still can easily out-maneuver
Canada on certain issues. Dion noted that Canada continues
to make a concerted effort to "build bridges" and reach out
to other members in an effort to sway them from bloc voting.
OTTAWA 00000233 002 OF 002
Dion added that Canada is making a push in Geneva on an
issue-by-issue basis with like-minded countries. Dion
claimed some success, pointing again to Darfur and noting
that some moderate African countries had broken ranks and
voted in favor of continued scrutiny of the situation in
Darfur. Dion remarked that Canada is also engaging with HRC
members bilaterally through its ambassadors and high
commissioners.
ISRAEL AND DURBAN: HRC "FLASHPOINTS"
--------------
7. (C) Sinclair described Israel and the Durban conference on
racism as the HRC's two "flash points." In November 2006,
UNGA adopted the HRC's institution-building package, which
includes a separate agenda item entitled "Palestine and Other
Occupied Arab Territories." Dion stated that Canada believes
this item violates the HRC's principles of universality,
impartiality, objectivity, and non-selectivity, and hence
Canada opposed the institution-building package. Dion said
that Canada also opposed the HRC's failure to renew mandates
on Cuba and Belarus. Dion noted that Canada was the sole
member -- in a 46 to 1 vote -- to request a vote on the
institution-building package. Sinclair added that other
members opposed calling a vote because they would be forced
to vote against the package, likely resulting in the HRC
failing to adopt a package at its sixth session.
8. (U) At the Senate hearing, AI's Neve also criticized the
HRC for singling out Israel as the only country in the world
warranting permanent attention as a standing item on its
agenda. Neve commented that it was "abundantly clear that
poisonous Middle East politics continue to plague the body."
He remarked, however, that he in no way believes this means
the HRC is beyond salvation.
9. (C) At the same hearing, DG Dion reported that the HRC
acts as the preparatory committee for follow-up to the World
Conference Against Racism, also known as the Durban
Conference. On January 23, Canada announced it would not
participate in the 2009 Durban Review Conference (reftel).
Sinclair privately commented that Canada had taken a firm
stance against the Durban conference and stands by its
decision, but is not proactively lobbying other countries not
to attend. Sinclair also remarked that the HRC discussion on
the Durban conference has been very divisive, with the EU and
Canada in particular facing increasing concerns about the
process. Sinclair noted that Canada had been surprised by
the general lack of domestic criticism of its decision not to
attend the conference, although some members of Parliament
had criticized the government over this publicly in the daily
Question Period.
LOOKING AHEAD -- THE 7TH SESSION
--------------
10. (C) According to Sinclair, Canada's priority at the
upcoming seventh HRC session March 3-28 will be to renew the
mandates of the special rapporteurs on freedom of expression
and violence against women. Sinclair noted that Canada will
also seek to ensure that any follow-up decision on Burma
maintains pressure on the Burmese regime. Sinclair predicted
that HRC members will present at least 50 resolutions, but
Canada will not see most of them until the session actually
begins. Sinclair also noted that Canada will not send a
representative to the high-level session.
COMMENT
--------------
11. (C) Despite its frustrations with the new HRC, Canada
continues push to make it a more effective institution, and
is usually working to advance goals identical or almost
Qis usually working to advance goals identical or almost
identical to those of the U.S. Canadian officials warmly
welcome our insights and dialogue on key human rights issues
generally and HRC issues in particular, whether in Ottawa,
Washington, New York, or Geneva.
Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada
WILKINS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2018
TAGS: PHUM KUNR PREL CA
SUBJECT: CANADA SEES "SOME ENCOURAGING SIGNS" IN UN HRC
REF: OTTAWA 123
Classified By: Political MinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
)
1. (C) Summary: According to Canadian Department of Foreign
Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) officials, the UN
Human Rights Council (HRC) remains a "work in progress," but
Canada has seen encouraging signs that it is maturing and
shifting its focus from institutional questions to specific
human rights issues. DFAIT officials highlighted especially
the HRC's work on Darfur and Burma, as well as its
establishment of a schedule and guidelines for Universal
Periodic Reviews (UPRs). They nonetheless commented on
problems inherited from previous UN Commission on Human
Rights, notably the unfair singling out of Israel. They also
noted that, with fewer members and typical bloc voting, other
HRC members can easily out-maneuver Canada. At the seventh
HRC session in March 2008, Canada will focus on renewing the
mandates of the special rapporteurs on freedom of expression
and violence against women. Canadian officials warmly
welcome input from and dialogue with U.S. counterparts on
human rights issues generally and on HRC issues specifically.
End summary.
GROWING FOCUS ON SPECIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES
--------------
2. (C) In testimony to the Standing Senate Committee on Human
Rights on February 11, DFAIT's Director General for Human
Security and Human Rights Adele Dion said that, while the UN
HRC is still a "work in progress," she had seen "some
encouraging signs," especially in the past six months. Dion
noted that the HRC is increasingly shifting its focus from
institutional questions to addressing specific "human rights
issues and situations where it matters most, namely, on the
ground." She stated that Canada nonetheless continues to
push for further improvements in HRC deliberations. DFAIT
Human Rights Section Deputy Director Robert Sinclair told
PolOff that Canada remains hopeful that the HRC will become
more proactive once it finalizes its internal mechanisms.
3. (U) Dion cited the HRC's work on Darfur and Burma at its
last session as evidence that the HRC is "maturing." She
described how the HRC's sixth session in September 2007 had
addressed the human rights situations in Darfur and held a
full debate on the interim report of the group of experts on
Darfur. She said that the HRC had taken "some fairly strong
stands," and, by handing the mandate to a special rapporteur,
had ensured that the HRC will continue its focus on the
issue. Dion also noted that the HRC had held a session on
Burma following to its crackdown on demonstrators, and
claimed that HRC pressure had led Burma's permission for a
HRC special rapporteur to visit the country -- his first
visit in six years.
UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW PROCESS HAS GREAT POTENTIAL
-------------- --------------
4. (U) Dion and Sinclair pointed to the adoption of a
schedule and guidelines for the UPR process as one of the
HRC's most significant achievements to date, and noted that
Canada had been a leading proponent. According to Dion, the
UPR process, which should begin in April 2008, has the
potential to help the HRC be more even-handed than the
Commission had been, since the process will force the HRC to
assess all countries on a regular rotating basis. She also
stated that Canada believes that, through the UPR process,
the HRC will become more proactive in its work, since it will
continually review and make recommendations on countries'
Qcontinually review and make recommendations on countries'
human rights records.
5. (U) Amnesty International Canada Secretary General Alex
Neve separately told the Standing Senate Committee on Human
Rights that the HRC's UPR process has the potential to help
it avoid claims of selectivity and double standards
associated with its predecessor. Neve noted, however, that
three HRC representatives from different countries will be
responsible for the oversight of each review, and in order
for the process to be successful, these representatives must
be committed to the fairness of the process and that HRC
members should set "best practices" from the beginning.
BLOC VOTING
--------------
6. (U) Dion noted that Canada continues to face the same kind
of regional "bloc voting" in the HRC as in the previous
Commission. Other HRC members still can easily out-maneuver
Canada on certain issues. Dion noted that Canada continues
to make a concerted effort to "build bridges" and reach out
to other members in an effort to sway them from bloc voting.
OTTAWA 00000233 002 OF 002
Dion added that Canada is making a push in Geneva on an
issue-by-issue basis with like-minded countries. Dion
claimed some success, pointing again to Darfur and noting
that some moderate African countries had broken ranks and
voted in favor of continued scrutiny of the situation in
Darfur. Dion remarked that Canada is also engaging with HRC
members bilaterally through its ambassadors and high
commissioners.
ISRAEL AND DURBAN: HRC "FLASHPOINTS"
--------------
7. (C) Sinclair described Israel and the Durban conference on
racism as the HRC's two "flash points." In November 2006,
UNGA adopted the HRC's institution-building package, which
includes a separate agenda item entitled "Palestine and Other
Occupied Arab Territories." Dion stated that Canada believes
this item violates the HRC's principles of universality,
impartiality, objectivity, and non-selectivity, and hence
Canada opposed the institution-building package. Dion said
that Canada also opposed the HRC's failure to renew mandates
on Cuba and Belarus. Dion noted that Canada was the sole
member -- in a 46 to 1 vote -- to request a vote on the
institution-building package. Sinclair added that other
members opposed calling a vote because they would be forced
to vote against the package, likely resulting in the HRC
failing to adopt a package at its sixth session.
8. (U) At the Senate hearing, AI's Neve also criticized the
HRC for singling out Israel as the only country in the world
warranting permanent attention as a standing item on its
agenda. Neve commented that it was "abundantly clear that
poisonous Middle East politics continue to plague the body."
He remarked, however, that he in no way believes this means
the HRC is beyond salvation.
9. (C) At the same hearing, DG Dion reported that the HRC
acts as the preparatory committee for follow-up to the World
Conference Against Racism, also known as the Durban
Conference. On January 23, Canada announced it would not
participate in the 2009 Durban Review Conference (reftel).
Sinclair privately commented that Canada had taken a firm
stance against the Durban conference and stands by its
decision, but is not proactively lobbying other countries not
to attend. Sinclair also remarked that the HRC discussion on
the Durban conference has been very divisive, with the EU and
Canada in particular facing increasing concerns about the
process. Sinclair noted that Canada had been surprised by
the general lack of domestic criticism of its decision not to
attend the conference, although some members of Parliament
had criticized the government over this publicly in the daily
Question Period.
LOOKING AHEAD -- THE 7TH SESSION
--------------
10. (C) According to Sinclair, Canada's priority at the
upcoming seventh HRC session March 3-28 will be to renew the
mandates of the special rapporteurs on freedom of expression
and violence against women. Sinclair noted that Canada will
also seek to ensure that any follow-up decision on Burma
maintains pressure on the Burmese regime. Sinclair predicted
that HRC members will present at least 50 resolutions, but
Canada will not see most of them until the session actually
begins. Sinclair also noted that Canada will not send a
representative to the high-level session.
COMMENT
--------------
11. (C) Despite its frustrations with the new HRC, Canada
continues push to make it a more effective institution, and
is usually working to advance goals identical or almost
Qis usually working to advance goals identical or almost
identical to those of the U.S. Canadian officials warmly
welcome our insights and dialogue on key human rights issues
generally and HRC issues in particular, whether in Ottawa,
Washington, New York, or Geneva.
Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada
WILKINS