SDIR Committee Meeting

The Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development met at 11:04 a.m. this day, in Room 307, West Block, the Chair, Jason Kenney, presiding.

The witnesses made opening statements and answered questions.

At 12:55 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 1:04 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Irwin Cotler moved, — Whereas senior Iranian government officials have consistently violated the prohibition in Article Three (c) of the Genocide Convention against the direct and public incitement to commit genocide, in their clear and persistent calls for the “annihilation” of Israel and for “Israel to be wiped off the map.”

Whereas these public and direct genocidal incitements also violate the prohibition in Article 25(3)(e) of the Statute for an International Criminal Court against the public and direct incitement to Genocide. Whereas these public and direct genocidal incitements are accompanied by Iran’s intent to acquire nuclear weapons, in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions.

Whereas State Parties to the Genocide Convention have a responsibility to enforce the obligations under the Convention to prevent the direct and public incitement to commit Genocide.

Therefore, it is recommended that:

1. Canada, as a State Party to the Genocide Convention, call upon the competent organs of the United Nations to take such action under the Charter of the United Nations as they consider appropriate for the prevention and suppression of the public and direct incitement to commit genocide as set forth under Article Three (c) of the Genocide Convention;

2. Canada call upon the United Nations Security Council to refer the situation of the genocidal incitement to the Special Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court for investigation and prosecution.

Denise Savoie moved, — That the motion be amended in the first paragraph by adding the words “by senior Iranian government officials” after the words “commit genocide”;

That the motion be amended in the second paragraph by adding the words “by senior Iranian government officials” after the word “incitement”; and

That the motion be amended in the second paragraph by deleting all the words after the word “Court” and replacing them with the words “in order to determine the basis of an investigation and prosecution”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Denise Savoie and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 3; NAYS: 2.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 3; NAYS: 2.

At 2:01 p.m., the Subcommittee adjourned to the call of the Chair.