As host of the Summit of the Americas, Canada has a unique opportunity to enhance the protection of human rights throughout the Americas. It has not ratified the American Convention on Human Rights and submitted itself to the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court on Human Rights. It has not ratified the other treaties on torture, disappearances and violence against women. By ratifying these conventions or announcing its intention to sign them at the Summit, Canada can play a significant role in reinforcing the Inter-American system for the protection of human rights. Also it will send a convincing signal to its partners about the need to take concrete action to include fundamental human rights in all aspects of free trade negotiations.
Canadian companies have an active presence throughout the Americas.
The Canadian government has the double challenge to ensure that the activities of these companies do not contribute to abuses, but rather help to promote human rights. The government must also demonstrate that commercial considerations will not prevent it from raising concerns about human rights in any country. The link between business and human rights must be a priority for the government of Canada, which must take concrete measures to ensure there are positive benefits from investment for human security and dignity and not assume free trade will lead to an improvement in respect for human rights. They are not negotiable, and above all not discountable. Canada must never trade away human rights for short term commercial gain.