Human rights hypocrisy?

Re: In defence of our human rights defenders, Nov. 1.

Bernie Farber rightly praised those who pioneered human rights codes and " ... politicians of all stripes (who) honoured and protected human rights legislation ..."

Farber then pointed out that: " ... with bumps and bruises, it works."

Yes, with regard to the legislation being in place, that part works. And with Stephen Harper boldly calling for a Commonwealth "Commissioner for Democracy, the Rule of Law and Human Rights" as well as a Canadian "Office of Religious Freedom," one could reasonably believe that all is right and good in Canada. The aim of both of these initiatives is to export our standards to governments and citizens in foreign countries.

The reality, however, is quite different. Canada was censured in 1999 by the United Nations Human Rights Committee for a violation of the International Covenant on Civil Rights (to which Canada acceded in 1976) due to Ontario's preferential public funding of the Roman Catholic separate school system.

The censure was repeated in 2005. Nothing has happened on this file for 12 years; the censure still exists.

Too bad, all that work to entrench the legislation, and all it amounts to is some deceitful window dressing.

Renton Patterson, Pembroke


(2011-11-5/The Ottawa Citizen)