RWCHR Weekly Digest

This summer we had the pleasure to host excellent interns who engaged themselves fully with the Centre’s pursuit of international justice. I am delighted to share with you a message written by McGill law student Ella Johnson about her internship experience.

Best,
Irwin Cotler, International Chair of the RWCHR

Interning at the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights has been one of the most incredible, rewarding experiences of my life. I came to the Centre after my first year of law school out of a desire to learn more about international and human rights law. My time here has opened up that world to me more than I ever expected. That is a credit both to the Centre’s staff, who are dedicated, experienced advocates and mentors, and to the substantive, groundbreaking work that they do on many of the most important human rights violations of our time.

For example, the Centre has in the past two years led the first independent legal analyses of Chinese violence against the Uyghurs and Russian violence against Ukraine, respectively, under the international legal framework of genocide. An independent report such as this provides a very important support to any efforts by the Uyghurs and Ukrainians to advocate for themselves. It is also quite important for all other states, who have obligations to prevent genocide, as it informs them of when those obligations have been triggered.

I did not know any of that before my internship, but was able to learn because I was brought into the process of writing, releasing and publicising the Russia report. The Centre’s staff made the time to explain what was happening to me as the process went along, gave me a chance to contribute meaningfully to the report and provided me with constructive feedback throughout the process. I learned much more than I ever could have in a classroom and feel really proud that I was able to contribute to this important work. My experience has been so excellent that I will continue working with the Centre after this summer. I cannot imagine a better place to begin a career in this field.

RWCHR Statement on Sentencing of Jafar Panahi 
The RWCHR condemned the arrest and arbitrary detention of award-winning Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi and called for his immediate and unconditional release from Evin Prison. Iran’s judiciary ruling that Mr. Panahi serve a previous six-year prison sentence is an affront to his universal human rights and the international rule of law and must be promptly overturned.

CJN Interview with Professor Irwin Cotler 
Professor Cotler was interviewed on The CJN Daily podcast, on the anniversary of Canada’s National Summit on Antisemitism, to assess the progress made since the first-ever national summit of its kind. Convened by the Canadian Government and Professor Cotler in his role as Canada’s Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism, Canada’s National Summit on Antisemitism was a timely initiative that brought together the Prime Minister and other Government Ministers, parliamentarians, and a diverse representation of the  Jewish community, among others. Professor Cotler shared a National Action Plan to Combat Antisemitism at the Summit and summarised the concrete action that has been taken since the Summit in the past year.

RWCHR Statement Condemning Recent Wave of Baha’i Arrests
The RWCHR strongly condemned the recent wave of arrests, raids, and imprisonments targeting Baháʼís by Iranian authorities. The arrest – and systematic targeting – of members of the Baháʼí faith is a looking glass into the Iranian regime’s longstanding pattern of hate and persecution against the Baháʼís in Iran. 

Op-Ed by Professor Irwin Cotler on China’s Transnational Repression 
Professor Cotler published an article in The Globe and Mail on China’s transnational repression, including the criminal harassment and intimidation of Canadians such as Canadian Uyghur Husseyin Celil, and Canadian businessman Xiao (James) Jianhua. Titled “The Chinese government's continued assault on Canadian freedoms requires action”, Professor Cotler called for meaningful action to address this repression, including by prioritizing the combatting of arbitrary detentions as a matter of principle and policy and imposing targeted Magnitsky sanctions on CCP officials responsible for human rights abuses.  

Commemorating Raoul Wallenberg’s Birthday
On the 110th anniversary of his birth, the RWCHR remembered and paid tribute to the life and legacy of Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg – Canada’s first Honorary Citizen and hero of the Holocaust. An inspirational role model for humanity, Raoul Wallenberg demonstrated how one person with the compassion to care and the courage to act can confront evil, prevail and transform history.

RWCHR Announces Role as Co-Chair of Global Civil Society Coalition Advocating for Targeted Sanctions
We are delighted to announce our role as Co-Chair of a global civil society coalition comprising over 300 of the world's leading NGOs advocating for targeted sanctions against perpetrators of human rights abuses and corruption. Coordinated by US-based NGO Human Rights First, this coalition has been instrumental in much of the major sanctions designations in recent years, as well as meaningful legislative and policy initiatives. The RWCHR's new role as Co-Chair of this important group signals a newfound focus on Canada – a recognition of the leading role of Canadian civil society and government – and the need for further concrete action and coordination.

Mourning the Passing of the Honourable Bill Graham
The RWCHR is very saddened to learn of the passing of the Honourable Bill Graham. A long-time friend and colleague of Professor Cotler, they worked together as Law Professors, Parliamentarians, and Cabinet Ministers. A leader respected internationally and a great Canadian, he will be truly missed. Condolences to his family and friends.

Summary of GPAAAC’s Inaugural Meeting
The official summary of The Global Parliamentary Alliance Against Atrocity Crimes (GPAAAC) inaugural meeting has been released. Professor Cotler participated in the meeting, hosted by MIGS and KAS Canada, where he led a discussion on our ground-breaking report concluding that Russia bears State responsibility for breaches of the 1948 Genocide Convention.

Update on Vladimir Kara-Murza
Hero of humanity and RWCHR Senior Fellow Vladimir Kara-Murza yet again faces new sham charges as part of Vladimir Putin’s campaign of repression targeting democracy advocates, opposition politicians, anti-war commentators, and the like. We stand with Vladimir and his wife Evgenia during his unjust detention which is yet another example of the Kremlin’s criminalization of speech, association and assembly.

Article by Nasrin Sotoudeh
Nasrin Sotoudeh, a leading imprisoned Iranian human rights lawyer, whose case was first taken up by Professor Cotler as a parliamentarian in 2011, published an article in Ms. Magazine standing in solidarity with women across the United States after the Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. In her public letter, Nasrin warned of the dangers of the “loss of freedom and democracy”. 

Murray Rankin Appointed as BC’s Acting Attorney General 
Congratulations to RWCHR Board Member Murray Rankin – who also serves as BC Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation – on being appointed BC’s Acting Attorney General. We are very proud to be working with him in common cause.

Baroness Helena Kennedy Continuing Work in Support of Women Judges in Afghanistan
RWCHR International Legal Advisory Board Member Baroness Helena Kennedy continues to be engaged in the rescue and resettlement of Afghan women judges. See here for more on their plight and pain, and Baroness Kennedy’s ongoing efforts to secure their safety. 

Article by Jared Genser on Brittney Griner’s Imprisonment
RWCHR U.S. Chair Jared Genser co-authored an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal on Brittney Griner’s imprisonment in Russia as the most recent example of hostage-taking by authoritarian states – like Russia and Iran – targeting U.S. citizens.  

Cindy Blackstock’s Post-Apology To-Do List
RWCHR Senior Fellow and Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society Cindy Blackstock published a “Post-Apology ‘To Do’ List” – a list of actionable items – in the wake of the Pope’s apology on the part of the Catholic Church for Canada’s Residential Schools.

Murray Sinclair Issues Statement After Pope’s Apology
RWCHR Senior Fellow Murrary Sinclair published a statement after the Pope’s apology to survivors of Canada’s Residential Schools, recognizing the importance of the apology for First Nations, Inuit and Metis survivors, but also calling for more to be done – by the Catholic Church and all Canadians – towards the goal of reconciliation.

Ahmed Shaheed Completes Mandate as UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief
Congratulations to RWCHR Senior Fellow Ahmed Shaheed on completing his mandate as UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, during which he focused on combatting hate and intolerance, including antisemitism. We are very proud to continue to be working with him in common cause. See here to read his latest report – and recommendations – on combatting antisemitism on a global scale.