"In an eye-opening interview, Mary Lawlor, the UN special rapporteur on human-rights defenders, has shed light on the tarnished global reputation of Canada due to the federal government’s failure to protect human-rights advocates speaking out against the activities of Canadian corporations abroad.
Raising Concerns for Human Rights Advocates
Lawlor emphasized the urgent need for Canada to strengthen legislation and increase oversight of extractive firms operating abroad, as some of these firms have been accused of causing harm to the environment and targeting human rights advocates. She pointed out that between June 2019 and March 2022, her office registered 15 cases of retaliation against human-rights advocates that could be linked to Canadian mining activities overseas. Lawlor also criticized the lack of investigative powers granted to the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise to hold companies accountable.
Exploring Different Perspectives
During her visit to Canada, Lawlor engaged with government officials, industry representatives, and civil-society groups, expressing her concerns about the lack of support for advocates voicing human rights violations. Despite Canada’s self-proclaimed reputation as a global champion for human rights, Lawlor revealed that it is one of the worst offenders when it comes to cases involving companies and human rights abuses.
Seeking Solutions and Accountability
Lawlor called for significant changes in Canada’s approach to corporate accountability, advocating for the Canadian government to adopt legislation mandating human rights due diligence for companies similar to European standards. She also highlighted the need for more proactive and independent measures to address human rights violations in the business sector. Despite the introduction of voluntary measures, the ineffectiveness of existing mechanisms has drawn criticism from international human rights experts.
A Call to Action
As the UN special rapporteur aptly sums up, Canada’s reputation as a leader in human rights advocacy is at stake when it comes to the conduct of its corporations abroad. The time for action is now, and meaningful reforms must be implemented to ensure that human rights advocates are protected and that companies are held accountable for their actions.
In conclusion, the spotlight is on Canada to live up to its global image as a defender of human rights and take concrete steps to address the concerns raised by Mary Lawlor and others advocating for human rights defenders. The world is watching, and Canada’s response will determine its standing on the international stage."
