Footnote: Written by: Liberal Party of Canada SHEDIAC, NB— Liberal Foreign Affairs critic Dominic LeBlanc made the following statement today on International Human Rights Day:
“On this day we commemorate the 63rd anniversary of the United Nations’ adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and reflect on the invaluable work of human rights defenders around the world. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a global document, but also a truly Canadian document, as it was Canadian John Peters Humphrey who penned its first draft.
The Liberal Party of Canada believes in protecting human rights through the promotion of democracy, international dialogue and the politics of persuasion, and we thank those individuals who devote their lives to bringing an end to discrimination and division.
This Declaration should be a source of pride for Canadians, but also a call to responsibility. We must always remember our contributions to human rights and honour that rich tradition. Around the world, human rights activists are fighting for the ideals espoused in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and they deserve our full and unwavering support. As a country, we must be vigilant and use all available recourse in order to stem the abuse of the innocent around the world.”