Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly has announced that Canada will seek a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council for 2028 to 2030.
“The multilateral system that underpins [human] rights is under threat like never before. To confront this challenge, we must work together to rebuild the human rights foundation to strive towards a more just tomorrow for everyone,” she said during a press conference on Parliament Hill.
Joly said Canada’s candidacy will focus on six priorities: protecting human rights defenders; striving for an inclusive future by championing anti-racism and religious freedom; working toward the recognition and realization of the right of Indigenous people around the world; building a “feminist foreign policy”; advancing digital inclusion and safe online spaces; and dealing with climate change and climate refugees.
“We approach this goal with ambition, but also with humility. We’re not perfect and we’re working every day to become better. And while we continue to work to address our own challenges, ... we'll remain a champion for human rights around the world,” Joly said.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Marc Miller said Canada established colonial policies to deprive Indigenous peoples of their language, culture, and land, but it “should not be afraid to speak about this on the world stage, as painful as it is.”
“I’m confident that Canada would promote rights, perspectives, and priorities of Indigenous peoples at the table. For far too long, Indigenous peoples have been denied the most basic of rights to live freely and fully on their own land. So I fully support this bid, and it’s time to make their voices heard as perfectly as a person like me can do it, not only in Canada, but internationally,” he said.
Greece has also announced it will run for one of the three spots that will be available to countries within its geographical grouping. This group comprises 28 countries, including Canada, Western European countries, Australia, and New Zealand.
