The
Honourable Stockwell Day,
Minister of
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
House of
Commons
Ottawa,
Ontario
K1A 0A6
Fax: (613) 995-1154
Dear Minister, Amnesty International urges your government
to adopt a policy of fully complying with requests from the UN
Committee
Against Torture and the UN Human Rights Committee to stay a removal
while an
individual complaint is being examined.We are aware that such a request has recently been made to the
Canadian
government by the Committee Against Torture with respect to the
complaint of Mr
Bachan Singh Sogi and we ask that you ensure that his removal be
delayed
pending the Committee’s examination of the complaint. Amnesty International is deeply concerned
that the Canadian government has decided to proceed with Mr. Singh’s
deportation to India despite this request from the UN Committee. Amnesty International has frequently highlighted how
important it is
that Canada comply with and implement recommendations and requests made
by
expert UN human rights bodies, such as the UN Committee against Torture.Canada rightly and importantly expects other
governments to do so.The integrity and
effectiveness of the international human rights system very much
depends on
governments complying and cooperating with UN human rights institutions
and
experts.When states disregard their
obligations and fail to adhere to the requests and recommendations of
the
treaty-based expert bodies, the system is undermined and its ability to
uphold and defend human rights is significantly weakened.Canada’s authority and credibility with other governments is
inevitably undermined when, in a case such as this, Canada itself
chooses to
disregard UN recommendations. The UN human rights system has recently
undergone important and unprecedented reforms.As a member of the new Human Right Council, Canada must continue
to be a
leading and principled champion of measures to substantially strengthen
the
system.This is a particularly
disappointing time, therefore, for Canada to take action which conveys
a
contrary message; one which reinforces the longstanding and deeply
entrenched
practice of the numerous governments which consistently flout UN advice
and
pick and choose when they will conform to international legal
obligations.That cannot be Canada’s
approach. Amnesty
International requests that the Canadian government respect the request
for
interim measures made by the Human Rights Committee. Rule 86 of the
Human
Rights Committee’s Rules of Procedure provide that interim measures
might be
desirable in an individual case to avoid irreparable damage to the
victim of
the alleged violation. As a state party to the ICCPR and its Optional
Protocol,
Canada should refrain from taking actions which could undermine the
Human
Rights Committee’s authority and the international human rights treaty
monitoring system as a whole. Minister, please intervene to halt Mr.
Singh’s deportation to India.Doing so
will ensure his safety, and will convey a strong message to the
international
community that Canada is fully supportive of the UN human rights system. Sincerely,
Alex Neve Secretary General Amnesty International Canada (English
speaking)