Canada's Shame
Conservative government votes against human rights

On January 12, 2009 the United Nations Human Rights Council voted to condemn the "massive violations of human rights" by Israel in Gaza. Thirty three countries voted in favour of the resolution and, shamefully, Canada was the only country to vote against.

Read the UNHRC press release

UN rights council condemns Israeli offensive in Gaza (AFP)

Click here to send a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon, and the Leaders of the Opposition parties, Michael Ignatieff, Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe

Simply cut and paste the letter into your e-mail and add your details at the end. Or copy the e-mail adresses listed here
pm@pm.gc.ca
Cannon.L@parl.gc.ca
Ignatieff.M@parl.gc.ca
Layton.J@parl.gc.ca
Duceppe.G@parl.gc.ca

Let us know about your efforts. Please cc the Canadian Peace Alliance at cpa@web.ca

To: Prime Minister, Stephen Harper

The Canadian Peace Alliance, Canada's largest pan-Canadian peace network representing more than 150 organizations, condemns your shameful decision to be the only country to vote against the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution calling for an end to the “massive human rights violations” against the people of Gaza. Further, we demand that the Government of Canada publicly support that resolution and call on Israel to immediately cease the killing of Palestinians and withdraw from the Gaza strip.

After 17 days of fighting in Gaza more than 900 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed by the Israelis and more than 3500 wounded. The Israeli actions have been condemned by international human rights organizations and the United Nations as violating international law and the Geneva conventions. The systemic destruction of civilian infrastructure and the collective punishment of the people of Gaza is nothing short of a war crime. The Government of Canada, by not supporting this UN resolution, is complicit in those war crimes.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza gets worse with each day of the aggressive Israeli attacks. The 1.5 million people of Gaza are threatened with a disaster as the necessities of life: water, food and medical supplies run dangerously low. More than 25,000 Gazan civilians have been internally displaced and there is no route for them to escape the carnage.

The people of Canada want their government to ensure the just application of international law. This decision, once again, shows that the Conservative government supports the wholesale slaughter of innocent people. Thousands of Canadians and hundreds of thousands around the world have demonstrated to end the war in Gaza. We demand you stand with the growing international consensus and call for an end to the war on the people of Gaza now.

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cc: Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Michael Ignatieff, Liberal Leader
Jack Layton, New Democratic Party Leader
Gilles Duceppe, Bloc Quebecois Leader

Events Listings

Helpful Links

Read the Canadian Peace Alliance Statement on the Gaza crisis

For more background information see:

Palestine House

Canadian Arab Federation

American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee - Gaza Attacks Resource Centre

The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation

Antiwar.com

Downloads

Download the Petition

Stop the War on Gaza
Freedom for Palestine(placard)

Israel Out of Gaza Now!(placard)

Solidarity Letters

Canadian Union of Postal Workers
Letter to Stephen Harper (pdf)

Public Service Alliance of Canada
Letter to Stephen Harper (link)

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