RECOMMENDATION 1:

That the Government of Canada work on a priority basis to improve the system currently in place for monitoring, reporting, implementing and enforcing Canada’s international human rights obligations and that these reforms take place transparently and in consultation with civil society, aboriginal groups, and institutions whether federal, provincial or territorial.

RECOMMENDATION 2:

That the Government of Canada expand the mandate of the Continuing Committee of Officials on Human Rights to include ongoing consultations with civil society and aboriginal organizations, and that its meeting agendas, benchmarks and goals be made available to the public.

RECOMMENDATION 3:

That the Government of Canada mandate the Continuing Committee of Officials on Human Rights to regularly report its ongoing process to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development via reports or meetings, in camera when necessary, with the Subcommittee on International Human Rights.

RECOMMENDATION 4:

That the Government of Canada develop a rights-based approach to monitoring and reporting on Canada’s human rights record.

RECOMMENDATION 5:

That the Government of Canada, in responding to reports received from UN treaty bodies and human rights review bodies, ensure that its responses are based on government program outcomes and include all available data that can legally be shared with the public.

RECOMMENDATION 6:

That the Government of Canada ensure that the Universal Periodic Review process be open to input from relevant NGOs and community organizations.

RECOMMENDATION 7:

That the Government of Canada table each UPR report concerning Canada’s human rights record and any UN treaty body reports on the same subject in Parliament and that each of these reports be referred to an appropriate parliamentary committee for study.

RECOMMENDATION 8:

That the Government of Canada, in partnership with provincial and territorial governments, create and continually update a website to provide specific information with respect to the UPR recommendations, with respect to which departments are taking the lead for each recommendation and with respect to the current status of implementation.

RECOMMENDATION 9:

That the Government of Canada publicly respond to recommendations received from all UN treaty bodies and human rights review bodies within one year of receiving their reports.

RECOMMENDATION 10:

That the Government of Canada designate ministerial responsibility for:

• the domestic implementation of Canada’s international human rights obligations;
• for monitoring Canada’s human rights record and for reporting these findings to UN treaty bodies and human rights review bodies; and
• that the minister be given the necessary tools and resources to carry out this mandate.

RECOMMENDATION 11:

That the Government of Canada consult its provincial and territorial counterparts on the UPR recommendations and their implementation.

RECOMMENDATION 12:

That a federal-provincial-territorial deputy ministers committee be tasked with working closely with civil society and aboriginal organizations to support and facilitate any ministerial meetings and decision-making processes.