Canada Voting at the United Nations is an Embarrassment
Will Canada’s commitment to international law and to human rights for the Palestinian people will be reflected in its votes TODAY at the United Nations General Assembly?
Just Peace Advocates was pleased to join Canadian Friends of Sabeel in this call to Prime Minister Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Freeland. We are pleased that close to 40 organizations have joined over the last couple days with us in this call.
November 2018: We will be watching hoping to see Marc-Andre Blanchard in Canada’s seat at UNGA today, and voting in support of human rights and international law for the Palestinian people.
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C.,
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A2
The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Lester B. Pearson Building
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0G2
Dear Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister Freeland,
On November 29, the United Nations General Assembly will observe the annual International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
The day is an opportunity for people around the world to
look at how we can continue to work to support a just and lasting peace for Palestinians and
Israelis. On November 29 and 30, member states will also deliberate and debate on the “question
of Palestine” and vote on at least four resolutions proposed by the Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.
It is our hope that this year, Canada’s votes will demonstrate the upholding of the 4th Geneva
Convention with respect to the occupation of the Palestinian Territory and its people. According
to Article 1, it is our understanding that Canada, as a signatory, has the responsibility “to undertake
to respect and to ensure respect for the present Convention in all circumstances.” As Canadians,
we know that the Geneva Convention is not only an international agreement, but is incorporated
into Canadian law through the Geneva Conventions Act.
With Canada’s impending bid for the United Nations Security Council in 2020, we believe it is
now more imperative than ever that Canada’s voting record at the United Nations is one that
reflects the principles of international law. This is especially important as both Ireland and
Norway, who are bidding for this seat, were amongst the 128 countries to vote for peace during
the UN General Assembly resolution ES-10/L.22. This resolution condemned President Trump’s
declaration of ]erusalem as the capital of Israel. It was disheartening to see Canada’s name amongst
the 35 countries that abstained during this vote. On this date, Canada chose its “friendship with the
United States” over its moral and legal obligations to world peace.
We remain hopeful that Canada’s commitment to international law and to human rights for the
Palestinian people will be reflected in its votes this year. We believe that a country that sits on the
UN Security Council should be one that supports peace and justice, and stands against human
rights violations. We hope that Canada will make a step in the right direction through its upcoming
votes, and will be following up to see which side of history Canada stands on.
Sincerely,
Canadian Friends of Sabeel
Just Peace Advocates/Mouvement pour Paix Justice
Independent Jewish Voices Canada
Catholics for Justice and Peace in the Holy Land (CJPHL)
Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice (CUSJ)
United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine and Israel (UNJPPI)
Not in Our Name – Jewish Voices Opposing Zionism (NION)
Women in Solidarity with Palestine
Alumni Ecumenical Accompaniers from Canada (EAPPI)
Canadian BDS Coalition
Palestinian Canadian Congress
Beit Zatoun House
Zatoun
Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid (CAIA) – Toronto
Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid (CAIA) – Victoria
Toronto BDS Action
Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War
Oakville Palestinian Rights Association (OPRA)
Al-Haadi Musalla – Toronto
Al Quds Committee – Toronto
Educators for Justice – Waterloo Catholic Board
Socialist Action
NDP Socialist Caucus
Friends of No Way to Treat a Child in Toronto & Area
Palestinian and Jewish Unity – Montreal
The Canadian Palestinian Foundation of Quebec
Students for Palestinian Human Rights – Concordia University
Students for Palestinian Human Rights – Fraser Valley University
Justice for Palestinians – Calgary
Palestine Solidarity Network – Edmonton
Earth Chronicle Productions
Eastern Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
Palestine Solidarity Working Group – Sudbury
Palestine Study Group – Kelowna and Vernon
Amnesty International – Kelowna group
Canada Palestine Support Network (CanPalNet) – Vancouver
Barnard-Boecker Centre Foundation (BBCF)
Solidarity with Palestine – St. John’s
Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario
Copied to:
Marc-André Blanchard, Head of Canada’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations
Justice and Human Rights Government Standing Committee c/o Chair, Anthony Housefather
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Senate Standing Committee, c/o Chair A. Raynell Adreychuk
Human Rights Senate Standing Committee, c/o Chair Wanda Elaine Thomas Bernard
Canada-Palestine Parliamentary Group c/o Chair, MP Tabbara
Elizabeth May, Leader of Green Party of Canada
Andrew Scheer, Leader of Conservative Party of Canada
Mario Beaulieu Acting Head of the Bloc Québécois
Jagmeet Singh, Leader of NDP
Hélène Laverdière, NDP Foreign Affairs Critic
Erin O’Toole, Conservative Party of Canada Foreign Affairs Critic
Luc Thériault, Bloc Québécois Foreign Affairs Critic
Deborah Lyons, Canadian Ambassador to Israel
Douglas Proudfoot, Representative of Canada to the Palestinian Authority
Nabil Maroof, Chief Representative, Palestinian General Delegation, Palestinian Delegation to Canada