Special Events

Thank you for inviting me to participate in the United Nations International Day in Support of Survivors of Torture. I was asked by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bill Graham to represent the Canadian Government on this occasion. He informed me of how impressed he was by your hard work to help victims of torture. Your commitment to eliminating torture around the world is an inspiration to all of us. You should be very proud of this Centre and its accomplishments. Minister Graham sends you his best regards.

The promotion and protection of human rights is an integral part of Canadian foreign policy. Canada condemns all forms of torture - regardless of the circumstances.

Canada is fully committed to investigating and eliminating torturous acts - and prosecuting those responsible for them.

Canada is a strong proponent of measures to prevent and prohibit torture, and attaches great importance to effective action by the United Nations against torture.

Canada was among the first States to ratify the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT). Today, the number of States Parties has reached 126.

Canada has also recognized the competence of the Committee Against Torture to consider individual complaints under the Convention. We continue to encourage those States that have not already done so to become Parties to the CAT.

Last year Canada supported the adoption of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture at both the Commission on Human Rights and the United Nations General Assembly.

The Optional Protocol will establish an international visiting mechanism to places of detention and will require Parties to establish national visiting mechanisms. Canada supports the fundamental elements of the Optional Protocol and invites the international Sub-Committee, once established, to visit Canada.

The Optional Protocol also requires States to establish domestic mechanisms to conduct regular visits to places of detention in order to prevent torture.

Domestically, Canada has a number of mechanisms in place both federally and provincially to protect persons in places of detention from torture. These include, human rights commissions, correctional investigators, police oversight agencies and ombudsmen. We are currently consulting with Federal and Provincial officials on whether our domestic mechanisms meet the requirements of the Optional Protocol, and on the possibility of signing and ratifying it.

At UN fora, including the UN General Assembly, Canada has worked closely with other like-minded delegations to negotiate and support resolutions on "Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment."

This year - as in past years - Canada co-sponsored the resolution at the UN Commission on Human Rights Resolution. The opening words of that resolution are a collective affirmation of the global repugnance against torture. It states:

"Reaffirming that no one should be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, that such actions constitute a criminal attempt to destroy a fellow human being physically and mentally, which can never be justified under any circumstances by any ideology or by overriding interest, and convinced that a society that tolerates torture can never claim to respect human rights."

The UN Commission on Human Rights Resolution also notes with appreciation the work of the Special Rapporteur on Torture, Mr. Theo Van Boven. We closely follow his work and that of the UN Committee Against Torture, which is chaired by a Canadian independent expert, Mr. Peter Burns.

A key foreign policy priority for Canada is to ensure that there can be no impunity for acts of torture, wherever they may occur.

Canada took a leadership role in the negotiation and adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. This court will have jurisdiction to try those accused of the most serious crimes known to humankind, including acts of torture that amount to genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.

With the Rome Statute's entry into force on July 1, 2002, the International Criminal Court is becoming a reality. A Canadian, Philippe Kirsch, who played an important role in the negotiations, has been elected President of the Court.

I can reassure you that Canada will continue its leadership role in promoting the ratification and implementation of the Rome Statute. Canada's ICC Campaign, under the Human Security Program, has already sponsored a number of seminars and workshops around the world to raise awareness of the Court.

In closing I would like to thank you again for inviting me to speak at this important event marking the 26th anniversary of the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture. Canada attaches great importance to eliminating acts of torture. Please rest assured that the Canadian Government, Bill Graham and I will continue to take every opportunity possible to raise the issue of the seriousness of torture throughout the world.

Thank you,

Gar Knutson, PC, MP