Canada At The Forefront

Canada, demonstrating its newly admirable resolve to place itself on the world stage as a moral arbiter when such positions are clearly required, is now working alongside key allies to excite the lax and disinterested attitudes of the United Nations to bestir itself to recognize which of its appointees to various UN committees represent embarrassingly bad decision-making.

Perhaps France and the United States felt that aiding Syria through their support, to be elevated to membership on UNESCO's committee in November, would be an encouraging factor for the Syrian regime to turn itself around and be more responsive to the needs of its people. That clearly has not resulted, through Syria's membership on the committee that oversees conventions and recommendations, the mandate including investigating alleged human rights abuses.

Can we all just pause a moment to reflect on the utter absurdity of Syria's representative to the committee engaging in deep introspection while weighing issues relating to human rights abuses involving countries other than Syria? It does, in fact, reflect the real-time situation of a Sudanese general heading the Arab League observer mission in Syria, who had once been an integral part of his country's mission to destroy Darfur.

"The situation in Syria challenges UNESCO's basic constitutional objectives, in particular to further respect for justice, for the law and for human rights and fundamental freedoms", informs a letter signed by Canada's deputy ambassador to UNESCO, and 13 counterpart-members from the U.S., Britain, Qatar and other concerned countries.

UNESCO's executive board is expected to "respond to (international) appeals for concerted action to address the egregious human rights situation in Syria. Syria participates in the examination of cases involving human rights violations. In view of the current situation in Syria, the Executive Board must review the participation of Syria."

At the time of Syria's appointment, it received the unanimous consent of members of the UN cultural agency's executive board, even while the regime was brutally cracking down on Syrian demonstrators. Handy for the Syrian regime to be part of such an august UN body, demonstrating to one and all its dedication to preserving and honouring human rights, internationally and right at home as well.

"Canada has been on the forefront of most worthwhile initiatives to keep gross violators accountable", said UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer, lauding Canada's pursuit of justice. Hear, hear.