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The report focused on six areas related to human rights, including human rights of Indigenous Peoples; anti-Black racism and people of African descent in Canada; refugee rights and the US–Canada Safe Third-Country Agreement; immigration-related detentions; migrant workers in Canada; and freedom of religion or belief.
The Universal Periodic Review is held every five years to keep countries accountable for their work around human rights, and is a tool for engaging with public policy work.
Human rights advocacy is essential for the life and witness of churches, noted Peter Noteboom, general secretary of The Canadian Council of Churches. “In recent years, Canadian churches have fewer staff who monitor and can prepare testimony in human rights forums,” he said. “It is only with the strong support of global organizations like the World Council of Churches that we can maintain that essential presence at the United Nations.”
By working ecumenically, churches who are members of the World Council of Churches can engage in global advocacy with the United Nations Human Rights Council, added Adele Halliday, Anti-Racism and Equity lead for The United Church of Canada.
“This kind of collaborative work enables churches in Canada, and around the world, to create impactful reports such as the Universal Periodic Review, which is a process that helps keep countries accountable for their work around human rights, and is a tool for engaging with public policy work,” said Halliday.
