Countries That Care the Most About Human Rights - Canada

             It is important to know about the countries that are considered the most respectful about human rights. Brazil and many other countries can learn with them and put some of their policies in practice, but first of all, it must recognizes the importance of human rights to democracy, justice and citizenship. This post is a summary of two articles. The first was published at   https://international.gc.ca/world-monde/issues_development-enjeux_developpement/human_rights-droits_homme/rights_defenders-defenseurs_droits.aspx?lang=eng. The second was published at   https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/human-rights

            Canadians expect their government to help build respect for human rights at home and around the world. These guidelines are a how-to-guide for supporting human rights defenders, as well as a clear statement of Canada's commitment to promoting all human rights. The government of Canada recognizes the key role played by human rights defenders in protecting and promoting human rights and strengthening the rule of law. A human rights defender is someone who, individually or with others, acts to promote or protect human rights. Human rights defenders help to bring attention to and raise awareness of individuals' human rights. Human rights defenders document and call attention to violations and abuses by any actor. They also highlight the obligations of others to respect and protect those rights within society, from the local level to the international level. However, because of their work to promote human rights, the daily lives of human rights defenders are often affected by threats, intimidation, arrests, detention and harassment. Canada is committed to supporting the work of human rights defenders to advance human rights internationally. Canada is concerned that governments and other actors are stifling civil society through: 1) limiting the full enjoyment of fundamental freedoms, both online and offline.  2) discriminating openly against individuals from marginalized and vulnerable groups.  3) increasingly harsh tactics of intimidation, unlawful and arbitrary surveillance, threats and reprisals.  The impact of such violations and abuses on the individuals themselves, on their families and communities, and on respect for human rights overall, is profound. Canadian support for human rights defenders takes many forms and responds to changing needs: advocasting for open civic space and human rights; working in multilateral forums to strengthen international rules; leveraging partnerships with other countries, civil society and the private sector, including Canadian business interests abroad; funding civil society organizations and grant agencies; and giving public recognition to human rights defenders for their achievements.  Through its engagement in multilateral forums Canada firmly advocates for the protection of human rights defenders and the effective participation of civil society. Through the Universal Period Review (UPR) Canada makes constructive recommendations to states to: 1) improve human rights promotion and protection.  2) seek areas for collaboration, including with human rights defenders.  3) fulfill the commitments made previously through the UPR. Through its network of mission abroad, Canada engages with local authorities to underscore the obligation of states to protect all individuals in their territory and subject to their jurisdiction, including human rights defenders. Our mission abroad liaise with human rights defenders and international and local human rights organizations. This helps us to better understand the situation of human rights defenders in countries around the world. Canada seeks out opportunities to build the capacity of civil society organizations, through expertise and experience sharing as well as technical assistance. Since 2011, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has presented an award on behalf of the government of Canada. The human rights award recognizes individuals or groups outside of Canada that show exceptional courage and leadership in defending human rights and freedom.

              Human rights are rights that we all have by virtue of our shared humanity. Depending on the nature of the right, both individuals and groups can assert human rights. The realization of human rights is a constant struggle on the part of people who suffer injustices and who seek redress. Human rights that we all have by virtue of our shared humanity. HUman rights are an important part of the social fabric of Canadian society. Canadians have played a special role in the evolution of human rights on the international stage. Human rights are so fundamental that they receive a degree of special protection at three levels: in international law, in national constitutions and in human rights laws. At the international level, the touchstone is the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Canada has signed the UDHR and has ratified several international human rights treaties. By 2014, Canada had ratified seven out of ten. At the constitutional level, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is now part of the Constitutional Act, 1982. Before 1982, there was little constitutional protection against government interference with human rights. Today, the charter guarantees fundamental freedoms, democratic freedoms (such as participation in elections), legal rights, equality rights, and the right to enforce these rights. Civil rights are associated with fundamental freedoms and privacy rights. They are usually invoked to oppose state intrusions into those rights. Civil liberties can be claimed before the courts on an immediate basis, for example by demanding an immediate end to cruel and unusual treatment. This group of rights is often referred to as "first generation" rights. Economic, social and cultural rights are also fundamental components of human rights. they are sometimes referred to as "second generation " rights. They include education, health, housing and employment. Canada usually implements these rights through government policies and programs. They require progressive or gradual realization. All human rights are indivisible, interrelated and interdependent. The development of international human rights law generated pressure to strengthen our human rights laws in Canada. The scope and meaning of human rights are always evolving. Canadian courts have said that the constitution is a "living tree," meaning that it can grow and evolve with time. There are several important examples of this ongoing evolution. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, there has been a growing tension between human rights and national security, reigniting debates about torture, religious freedom, immigration and national surveillance. The renaissance of public political protest and the growing number of restrictions on civil society organizations around the world, have reignited questions about reasonable limits on freedom of association and peaceful assembly in canada and around the world. The fight for human rights and the nature of Canada's role in the development of human rights is an important part of our national heritage and our ongoing and shared national task of respecting, protecting and fulfilling human rights. As part of this journey, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, which opened in 2014 in Winnipeg, is the first museum in the world solely dedicated to the narrative of Canada's human rights journey, its evolution, celebration and future.