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e-4935 (Foreign affairs)

E-petition
Initiated by Joanne Hodges from Scarborough, Ontario

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the House of Commons

Whereas:
  • The House of Commons unanimously recognized the Tamil and Uyghur genocides in motions passed on 18 May 2022 and 21 February 2021, respectively;
  • The Subcommittee on International Human Rights condemned the use of force against Tigrayan civilians by Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Amhara forces on 5 December 2022, stating that all human rights violations should be investigated and prosecuted;
  • Canada possesses tools to combat mass atrocities, including the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act for prosecutions and the Sergei Magnitsky Law for targeted sanctions;
  • In the past, Canada implemented targeted sanctions on officials and entities responsible for violations against Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims, and Tamils. No targeted sanctions have been implemented for violations against Rwandans, Hazaras, Tibetans, or Tigrayans; and
  • Canada has only prosecuted two individuals, Désiré Munyaneza and Jacques Mungwarere, under the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act.
We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to:
1. Place sanctions, consistently, on foreign nationals responsible for gross violations of human rights against Rwandans, Hazaras, Tibetans, and Tigrayans, and place further sanctions on foreign nationals responsible for gross violations of human rights against Uyghurs and Tamils;
2. Conduct a comprehensive review of the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act to assess why it has not been used in over ten years to prosecute war criminals and criminals against humanity, and rectify any issues found so that it is used consistently and effectively; and
3. Resettle genocide victims to Canada, including members of the Uyghur, Tigrayan, Hazara, Tibetan, Rwandan, and Tamil communities.
Open for signature
April 22, 2024, at 3:55 p.m. (EDT)
Closed for signature
May 22, 2024, at 3:55 p.m. (EDT)
Photo - Ali Ehsassi
Willowdale
Liberal Caucus
Ontario