In a recent development, India has proposed measures to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to curb attacks on places of worship and the spread of hate speech in Canada. The proposal was presented during a review meeting of the UNHRC, where diplomats from India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka shared their recommendations.
Indian diplomat, Mohammad Hussain, highlighted the importance of national policies such as the National Housing Policy and the Inclusive Canada Act during the UNHRC meeting. He emphasized India's commitment to addressing issues related to national policies for the prevention of human trafficking and the protection of human rights.
India urged Canada to strengthen its domestic framework to prevent the misuse of freedom of expression and, specifically, to curb violence and incitement. The proposal also called for Canada to discourage extremist groups and effectively prevent attacks on places of worship, especially those belonging to religious and ethnic minorities.
Abdulla Al Forhad, a Bangladeshi diplomat, acknowledged Canada's progress in human rights protection and endorsed its ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking. However, Bangladesh recommended that Canada intensify efforts against racism, hate speech, and discrimination, especially targeting immigrants and Muslim minorities.
Bangladesh urged Canada to accelerate efforts against racism, offensive language, hate crimes, and discrimination against immigrants and Muslim minorities. Additionally, the country called for increased measures to combat false information affecting the rights of minority communities and called for robust reporting and continuous international cooperation on human rights recommendations.
Thilini Jayasekara, a Sri Lankan diplomat, suggested Canada's participation in the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. She also emphasized the need for Canada to address issues of discrimination against minority communities, combat misinformation, and strengthen its national mechanisms for reporting and action on international human rights recommendations.
Sri Lanka highlighted the importance of Canada joining the convention to safeguard the rights of migrant workers. The country also called for concerted efforts to address discrimination, counter misinformation against minority communities, and reinforce domestic mechanisms for responding to international human rights recommendations.
Notably, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently confirmed India's involvement in the assassination of separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. This revelation has strained bilateral relations between Canada and India.
The accusations led to a diplomatic spat, with Canada accusing India of violating the Vienna Convention by expelling 40 diplomats from New Delhi. In response, India emphasized that it had not violated any international standards and criticized Canada for unwarranted accusations. The proposals put forward by India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka reflect their concerns about human rights issues in Canada. As the diplomatic discourse continues, it remains to be seen how Canada responds to these recommendations and whether it addresses the concerns raised by the South Asian nations.
India vs New Zealand 1st T20I will be played at the Wankhede Stadium, New Zealand
Gaza Ceasefire Urged by Macron: Netanyahu Responds to French President's Appeal
