The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of International Development, today issued the following statement:

“December 10 marks Human Rights Day, which commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“Following the horrors of the Second World War, the world came together in recognition of the fact that human rights are a prerequisite for peace. Based on this notion, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was written—with Canadian John Humphrey generally credited as having authored the first draft. In the years since, the declaration has served not only as a powerful statement on the universality of human rights, but also as the foundation of the international system’s efforts to protect the dignity of all people.

“Human rights are at the core of who we are as Canadians. We are proud to defend the rights of the poorest, most vulnerable and marginalized, whether that means advancing women’s rights around the world, standing up for LGBTQ2 people, pursuing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, advocating for the rights of children, or seeking equality for racial, ethnic and religious minorities.

“At a time when more and more leaders are challenging the premise that human rights are universal, Canada remains committed to working within the rules-based international system to uphold the fundamental rights of each and every person and to build a more just and more equal world.”