Human Rights Conference in Edmonton

by Vera Rosenbluth, President of Board of Directors

At the end of November I had the great privilege of attending a conference in Edmonton marking the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations. For two and a half days, 700 delegates from over 30 countries discussed where we stand now in terms of world-wide human rights, and what we might do in order to move ahead to a world of greater peace, social justice and freedom.

The challenges are many and obvious, both in Canada and abroad; poverty, racism, religious and political strife mean that those “universal human rights” are in fact denied to a great number of people in the world and the principles flouted by despotic leaders. But the conference was inspirational in that it focused on the core values that were agreed to at the UN in 1948, and highlighted the ways we have achieved progress as well as the vast work that remains to be done. It emphasized the importance of individual as well as collective action to achieve common goals, and reaffirmed for me a commitment to organizations like MOSAIC that work daily with courage and integrity for social justice.

Some memorable moments:

Wei Jingsheng, released last year after being imprisoned in China for 18 years for signing his name to a poster for democracy, reminding us of the link between human rights in our own country and abroad. He urged the audience not to be silent about human rights abuses in China and around the world.
Doan Viet Hoat, imprisoned for two decades for promoting democracy and pluralism in Vietnam, giving credit to Amnesty International for the pressure that led to his release last month.
Ed Broadbent reminding us what the students at the APEC conference were demonstrating about, and urging people to examine the human rights impacts of international trade policies. As he said, “rights are not just abstractions; they are about human beings.”
Anti-poverty activist Midge Cuthill passionately describing her work with Poverty in Action in Alberta.
Lawyer David Lepofsky, speaking eloquently on behalf of people with disabilities (he is blind), and telling a hilarious but probably apocraphyal story about a power blackout in a courtroom where he was counsel and his opponent asked for an adjournment. He of course objected to the request. But his serious message was “we want to live in a barrier-free society. That’s what equality means. It’s not a left wing issue, or a right wing issue, but everyone’s issue.”
Max Yalden’s thoughtful discussion about common elements of freedom and repression in both Western and Eastern cultures.
Ujjal Dosanjh speaking of the need to promote institutions that foster ideals of fairness and equality. He held up the creation of the hate crimes teams in B.C. as a positive step. It was somewhat ironic that the Attorney General had to leave a conference on human rights early in order to attend the funeral of the murdered Sikh newspaper publisher Tara Singh Hayer.
Francine Fournier, assistant Director General of UNESCO, saying “extreme poverty is a violation of human rights.”
Fatoumata Sire Diakite, a feminist activist from Mali, speaking about ending female genital mutilation in her country.
Oxfam’s Anne McGrath, quoting Alice Walker who said, “activism is the rent I pay for living on this planet!”
Justice Rosalie Abella’s anger and indignation at what she sees as the failure of all countries to honour the declaration of human rights with anything more than rhetoric. “Today, human rights proponents are called biased radicals. Opponents are called impartial realists.”

There were panels on disarmament, transnational corporations, the role of individuals and nongovernmental organizations, the rights of women, crimes against humanity, sexuality and discrimination, human rights and indigenous people, and about the challenges of poverty, disability and children in need. There was a special session for youth, with the main speaker being Craig Kielburger, and participation by youth delegates throughout the conference.

Of course, part of the value of going to this kind of conference is in the informal and somewhat serendipitous conversations I had during the lunch and coffee breaks: people like the Metis woman from Yellowknife who told me about her mother’s experiences in residential schools, or the Australian woman who talked to me about her work with aboriginal Australians, or the Honourable Jules Deschenes, who was a judge on the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, and is known in Canada for the Commission of Enquiry on War Criminals.

By far, the highlight of the conference for me was the appearance of Desmond Tutu at the banquet attended by 1500 people! As I was lining up with two friends to enter the huge room where the tables were set up, I chatted with the man who was standing behind us, who seemed to be by himself. I asked him if he had ever heard Desmond Tutu speak. “Oh yes,” he said, “I’m from South Africa.” So we continued to talk about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, about his feelings, as a black man, of going back to South Africa after apartheid ended, and after years living abroad. As the line began to move, I asked him if he would like to join us at a table, or if he had plans to sit with someone. It turned out he did have plans. He was to sit at the head table with Tutu, and Mary Robinson, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. It seems that this unassuming man was the South African High Commissioner in Ottawa!

It was an elegant affair, with performances by singers and dancers, greetings from the Prime Minister (via video) and Premier Klein (in person), and a moving taped message by Aung Sang Syu Chee. Although there were several speakers, the undisputed star of the evening was the small white haired smiling man who symbolizes the defeat of the apartheid system in South Africa. With humour and humility, he talked about his country, its past and its future, and the considerations that led to the controversial approach taken by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He spoke warmly and sincerely about the role played by countries such as Canada in the victory over apartheid. And he articulated his vision of a world where racism can be overcome; if it can happen in South Africa, where racism was so solidly entrenched, surely it can happen in other countries as well. He spoke about dreams and ideals and especially about the young people of the world whom he exhorted to “reach out for the stars and say, ‘the sky is the limit’!”