August 7, 2013
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, P.C.,
Prime Minister of Canada
Langevin Block
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A2
Re: Optional Protocol on the UN Declaration of Human Rights
Dear Prime Minister Harper:
The Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) is a national organization that works towards strengthening and promoting the profession while advancing pro-active approaches to addressing issues relevant to social work practice both nationally and internationally.
As you are aware, one of the difficulties in enforcing the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights is that it is not legally binding on the countries that have signed the declaration. Consequently the world’s majority does not live in the context of human rights protection.
To address this problem in 2008, on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights a Protocol for the enforcement on UN member states to legally bind themselves to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly.
CASW has noted that the Government of Canada has not signed or ratified the Optional Protocol on the UN Declaration of Human Rights as adopted by the General Assembly in New York in 2008. Social workers are bound by their international ethical statement which is based on the principles and values of human rights and social justice.
In order to support us in our work with people in our communities we are writing to ask if you plan to make the necessary signature and ratification of the Optional Protocol. CASW encourages the Government of Canada to demonstrate the leadership necessary to move the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from ideal to realty by ratifying the Optional Protocol.
Sincerely,
Morel Caissie, MSW, RSW
CASW President