Country detail - yourHRC.org

Canada

Regional group:

Western European & Others Group

Council member:

2006-2007

2007-2008

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Council Bureau membership:	Vice-president (2008-2009)
Coordinator of regional group:	–
Voluntary financial contribution to OHCHR (2024) :

Other HRC positions:	Member of Consultative Group (2014, 2021)
OHCHR presence:	– No field presence
NHRI accreditation status:	A

National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up (NMIRF): Unknown

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

Child, early and forced marriage in humanitarian settings; Promotion and protection of human rights and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; Accelerating efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women; Cooperation between Tunisia and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights; Effective implementation of international human rights instruments; Elimination of discrimination against women; Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Freedom of opinion and expression; Strengthening efforts to prevent and eliminate child, early and forced marriage; Consequences of child, early and forced marriage; Equal pay; Accelerating efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls: preventing and responding to violence against women and girls in the world of work; Promoting, protecting and fulfilling women’s and girls’ full enjoyment of human rights in humanitarian situations; Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka; Promotion and protection of human rights in Nicaragua; Situation of human rights in Yemen; Situation of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Voting record

Since it first became a member of the Council in 2006, Canada has either voted in favour of or has joined consensus on every resolution tabled under item 4 (situations that require the Council’s attention). For item 7 texts (human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories), Canada voted against all resolutions except three. On item 10 resolutions (capacity-building), Canada has joined consensus on all resolutions, except for one that was voted on during its time as member: dealing with cooperation with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Canada abstained). For thematic resolutions dealing with civil and political rights, Canada has mainly either joined consensus or voted in favour. Resolutions that it usually (or always) votes against include: the OIC’s resolution on incitement to religious hatred; the OIC’s resolutions on defamation of religions; Cuba’s resolutions on right to peace; some African Group resolutions on racism and the Durban Review Conference; and African Group resolutions on complementary standards to ICERD. For thematic resolutions dealing with economic, social and cultural rights, Canada has joined consensus on a majority of texts. Where there have been votes on such texts, Canada has always voted against, including for those resolutions dealing with: economic reform policies and foreign debt (Cuba); the effects of foreign debt (Cuba); globalisation and its impact on human rights (LMG); international solidarity (Cuba); and unilateral coercive measures (NAM).

HRC participation

During HRC general discussions, panel debates and interactive dialogues with the Special Procedures, during the past three years, either as an HRC member or not, the State has joined:

Regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 98

Subregional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 46

Political group
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 109

Cross-regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 61

Other joint
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 5

HRC member empty chair?

Overall, as a HRC member, has participated in more than 10% of panel discussions, general debates and interactive dialogues.

Cooperation with international human rights system

Special Procedures

Standing invitation

Communications responded to / received

Visits requests status

Completed
Invitation sent by the State not (yet) accepted by the SP
Accepted / date set
Visit request by the SP and not (yet) accepted by the State
Postponed / cancelled

Longest visit request not (yet) accepted by the State >
SR on executions, 2010

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

Reporting Status

Ratification status
Party Not Party
Individual complaint procedure accepted.
Reporting status

Submitted on time
Submitted late
Not applicable

On schedule
Overdue (outstanding)

CAT

ICCPR

CED

CEDAW

CERD

ICESCR

CRC

CRPD

Most overdue report

CRPD
-1.21 Years

OP-CAT

Ratified

NPM established

Universal Periodic Review

Reported

(2009, 2013, 2018)

Mid-term report

Level of delegation

Ambassador

Participation in other reviews
1^st cycle: 182 / 192

2^nd cycle: 187 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Cited in the Secretary General’s reports on 'alleged reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights' (2010-2024)?

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges: 12

Canada presented voluntary commitments and pledges in support of its candidature for membership on the Council for the period of 2006-2009 on 10 April 2006.

Canada pledged to: help build an efficient and effective Council; ensure that the Council responds appropriately to human rights violations; contribute to the institution-building process; promote the involvement of NGOs, NHRIs and civil society in the work of the Council; support the system of Special Procedures and maintain a Standing Invitation to visit; support OHCHR including through the provision of un-earmarked voluntary contributions; pursue international cooperation programmes on human rights; submit periodic reports to Treaty Bodies in a timely manner; support the reform of the Treaty Body system; and consider ratifying OP-CAT.

An analysis of steps taken by Canada in fulfilment of its international level commitments shows that it is still to ratify the OP-CAT. In terms of support for Council efforts to respond to violations, Canada did, as a member, consistently support Council action under item 4. Regarding cooperation with Special Procedures, Canada maintains a Standing Invitation, has facilitated most visits, and has responded to nearly all communications. Canada has shown a strong commitment to the UPR, participating in the reviews of 182 other states during the first cycle. Regarding cooperation with Treaty Bodies, four of Canada’s periodic reports were submitted late, and one is currently overdue (CRC). Canada has continued to make voluntary financial contributions to OHCHR.

Canada

Western European & Others Group

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

Voting record

HRC participation

HRC member empty chair?

Cooperation with international human rights system

Special Procedures

Standing invitation

Communications responded to / received

Visits requests status

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

Reporting Status

Universal Periodic Review

Participation in other reviews 1st cycle: 182 / 192

2nd cycle: 187 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges: 12

Participation in other reviews
1^st cycle: 182 / 192

2^nd cycle: 187 / 192