Representatives of Indigenous people from across Canada are presenting a paper to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on the violation of Indigenous peoples' rights in Canada. The entire paper can be found at http://knet.ca/documents/INET-UN-Presentation-Violations-May-5-06.pdf ...
Be sure to see the May 8 story below highlighting the initial findings that Canada continues to violate basis human rights of the under privileged members of our society. As well, the CBC story from May 22 highlighting the findings from the UN committee.
For more information about the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, visit http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cescr
See the press release below from this group ...
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Canada's rights situation not much better despite past rebukes: UN panel - May 8, 2006 - LISA SCHLEIN
GENEVA (CP) - A United Nations watchdog group has harshly criticized Canada for its failure to live up to its commitments under an international treaty that protects people's economic, social and cultural rights.
In a tough assessment, one of the committee's 18 independent experts noted that "some situations (in Canada) had actually got worse" since Canada's record was last scrutinized in 1998.
Canada is one of five countries being examined by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on its compliance with the international covenant dealing with those rights. The committee's session will also examine Monaco, Liechtenstein, Morocco and Mexico. Each of the 153 states that is party to the treaty, effective from 1976, has to submit a periodic report to the committee.
The committee grilled Canada for two days, last Friday and again Monday, about its record on poverty, homelessness, indigenous and migrant rights, health and education. It found the government wanting in all areas.
"Many of the issues our committee raised in 1993 and 1998 are unfortunately still live issues today," said Ariranga Govindasamy Pillay, an expert from Mauritius. "Years later, the situation appears to be unchanged, and in some respects worse."
"There is continuing homelessness and reliance on food banks, security of tenure is still not enjoyed by tenants, child tax benefits are still clawed back."
"The situation of Aboriginal peoples, migrants and people with disabilities doesn't seem to be improving," Pillay said.
In presenting Canada's report, Alan Kessel, a legal adviser to the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, said Canada is "proud of its record of achievement in the promotion of economic, social and cultural rights."
Canada is at the forefront of promoting human rights internationally and domestically, and "its efforts had paid dividends," Kessel said.
He noted the Canadian government provides income support for low-income families with children through the National Child Benefit Supplement. He said Canadians are among the best-housed people in the world and that most "have access to housing of acceptable size and quality at affordable prices."
Among the federal government's priorities, he said, are improved childcare, lower taxes, health care and crime reduction.
But the committee challenged the Canadian delegation on a wide range of issues, including Aboriginal rights. It specifically asked about the government's failure to settle outstanding land claims brought forward by the Six Nations and the Lubicon River Indians.
The experts also asked why young Aboriginal women are disproportionately exposed to sexual assault and murder. They expressed concern regarding discrimination against women under the Indian Act.
The Canadian delegation countered the criticisms by saying "it recognized and affirmed land and treaty rights." It said it recognized "the inherent right of Aboriginals to self-government."
Several committee members said they were disturbed by the lack of investment in social programs and by continuing high poverty rates of the most marginalized - including women, Aboriginal peoples, people of colour and immigrants.
A group of about 20 non-governmental organizations representing a range of human rights, Aboriginal, anti-poverty and womens groups attended the hearings and provided the committee with studies that painted a bleak picture of life in Canada for underprivileged people.
Vince Calderhead is with the Charter Committee on Poverty Issues, a Canadian social advocacy group.
He said "social assistance levels are lower now than they have been in 25 or 30 years even though the government is trumpeting an improved economy."
The Canadian delegation said Canada is making progress on poverty alleviation and believes that this is due to "Canadas support for self-reliance for families and self-sufficiency" for those with disabilities, Aboriginals, and the homeless.
It said "there had been a consistent downward trend in low incomes since 1996, and governmental programming was benefiting all Canadians."
The committee will formally issue its conclusions and recommendations on May 19 when its session concludes.
© The Canadian Press, 2006
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from http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/05/22/unreport-canada.html
Canada failing to care for poor, disadvantaged: UN report
Last Updated Mon, 22 May 2006 16:32:47 EDT
Canada is neglecting its poor and disadvantaged, a UN watchdog group charged Monday.
The report comes after an examination earlier this month of Canada's compliance with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, an international treaty that protects such rights.
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights notes that Canada ranks at the top of the UN Human Development Index and praises it for improving equal pay for equal work, extending maternity benefits and plans to improve health care.
But it scolds Canada for failing to heed recommendations in two earlier reports aimed at improving the lives of aboriginals, youth, single mothers, African-Canadians, people with disabilities and women.
Poverty rate considered high
Despite Canada's economic prosperity, the report says, roughly 11.2 per cent of the population lived in poverty in 2004. That is a drop from 13.7 per cent in 1998.
It says "… poverty rates remain very high among disadvantaged and marginalized individuals and groups such as Aboriginal peoples, African-Canadians, immigrants, persons with disabilities, youth, low-income women and single mothers."
The report also criticizes Canada's Employment Insurance program, saying in 2001, only 39 per cent of unemployed Canadians were eligible for EI benefits. Many groups have a difficult time getting benefits even though they pay into the plan, including migrant workers, and part-time workers, especially women, the report says.
Social assistance levels
The committee says federal transfer payments to the provinces for post-secondary education, social assistance and social services are lower than they were in 1995.
"Social assistance benefits … do not provide adequate income to meet basic needs for food, clothing and shelter," the report says.
More than half of the food bank users in the country did receive social assistance benefits, but said the benefits weren't enough to prevent them from having to use food banks, the report noted.
It recommends raising minimum wages and urges Ottawa to rethink its levels of federal transfer payments for social programs.
Aboriginals
There are "significant disparities" between aboriginals and the rest of the population in areas of employment, access to water, health, housing and education, it says.
Aboriginal women still face discrimination when it comes to property, Indian status and band membership, the report continues. It recommends amending the Indian Act.
The report also urges Canada to repeal section 67 of the Canadian Human Rights Act, which prevents First Nations people from filing complaints of discrimination before a human rights commission or tribunal.
Children
Children from families that are low-income, single-mother, aboriginal or African-Canadian are "over-represented" in foster care, the report says. Many women are forced to give up their children because of inadequate housing.
Children make up 40 per cent of the country's food bank users, the report says, while criticizing the deduction of child benefits from welfare cheques
Canada must take heed: advocate
A representative from an advocacy group says Canada must give this report serious attention since its recent inclusion in the new UN Human Rights Council.
"It really needs to take a look at its own human rights record before starting to criticize others," said Emily Paradis, with the Feminist Organization for Women's Advancement of Rights.
Paradis agrees poverty has increased among certain disenfranchised groups and that the gap between rich and poor has increased.
She blames cuts to social assistance, cuts to employment insurance and a low minimum wage," she said.
"All were taken in the last decade in spite of annual growth and annual budget surpluses."
