Human Rights as Global Security:
Future Directions for the Charter
A
Symposium at the John Humphrey
Centre
Speaking
Notes prepared for the Hon.
David Kilgour,
Member
of Parliament for Edmonton
Southeast and
Secretary
of State (Asia-Pacific)
April
25, 2002
Edmonton
It
is an honour to be part of
your discussion on human rights
and individual security. It
seems appropriate that on
the 20th anniversary
of the repatriation of the
Canadian Constitution and
the enshrinement of the Charter
of Rights and Freedoms we
have assembled to discuss
the challenges facing freedom
and human security domestically
and around the world.
Warren
Allmand, President of the
International Centre of Human
Rights and Democratic Development,
is following me with his keynote
address and will be opening
the exhibit, “Citizen of
the World: John Peters Humphrey
and the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights” by Moni
Kunstler Kuehcmeister. I’ll
accordingly be brief.
While
the attacks of September 11th
were directed at one nation
their impact continues to
resonate with persons from
all cultures around the world.
By espousing the values of
peace, inclusiveness, diversity,
freedom and security, we are
working together to ensure
that acts of terrorism have
no place in our emerging global
village.
One
of the primary aims of this
conference is to discredit
the notion that security and
rights are mutually exclusive.
It is important to remember
that security is ultimately
dependant on adherence to
fundamental human rights.
In other words, you can’t
have one without the other.
As
liberty and safety emerge
as the primary themes of this
new century, it is encouraging
to see so many young people
taking an active interest
in the promotion of the global
human rights agenda. Let’s
all credit the John Humphrey Centre, which has taken on
the responsibility of working
with young people to address
some of the important challenges
facing global human rights
and security. What better
way to build a foundation
for freedom, justice, and
peace than by educating the
leaders of tomorrow to be
aware of their basic human
rights and responsibilities?
Finally,
allow me again to extend a
sincere thank-you, to the
organizers, volunteers and
all of you – including the
“Charter Works contest winners,”
Wayne Leung and Claire Peacock,
who spent some time on Parliament
Hill last month.
Thank-you
