Canada and the United Nations
Encyclopedia
Canada has been a member of the United Nations Organization since the body's creation and has served for 12 years on the Security Council, one of the most of any non-permanent member. Canada has also contributed to more peacekeeping operations than any other member state.
Canada has been an elected member of the United Nations Human Rights Council
, since this was founded in 2006.
In the initial set-up of the UN, McGill University
law professor John Peters Humphrey
established the Division for Human Rights in the UN Secretariat, and remained in charge of the division for twenty years. The initial work of the Division for Human Rights was the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
of which Humphrey created the first draft and remained a champion of until its adoption by approval of the UN General Assembly in 1948. Canada has been part of every UN mission since 1957.
Secretary of State for External Affairs
Lester Pearson, while he was President of the UN General Assembly in 1957, proposed the concept of UN peacekeeping
forces as a means of dealing with the aftermath of the Suez Crisis
. He was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize
for his efforts and the establishment of the United Nations Emergency Force
(UNEF). Canada has played a leading role in the UN-led peacekeeping operations ever since it was created in 1945.
for 12 years, one of the most of any non-permanent member. It currently shares the third place in the list of countries serving on the Council by length with Colombia
, India
, Italy
, and Pakistan
. Canada was elected for the following six terms: 1948-49, 1958–59, 1967–68, 1977–78, 1989–90, and 1999-2000 - once every decade. In 2010, it lost its bid for a seat in the 2010 Security Council elections
, marking the country's first failure to win a seat in the UNSC.
Canada has been an elected member of the United Nations Human Rights Council
United Nations Human Rights Council
The United Nations Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations System. The UNHRC is the successor to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights , and is a subsidiary body of the United Nations General Assembly...
, since this was founded in 2006.
History
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
law professor John Peters Humphrey
John Peters Humphrey
John Peters Humphrey, OC was a Canadian legal scholar, jurist, and human rights advocate. He is most famous as the author of the first draft of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights....
established the Division for Human Rights in the UN Secretariat, and remained in charge of the division for twenty years. The initial work of the Division for Human Rights was the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly . The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled...
of which Humphrey created the first draft and remained a champion of until its adoption by approval of the UN General Assembly in 1948. Canada has been part of every UN mission since 1957.
Secretary of State for External Affairs
Secretary of State for External Affairs (Canada)
Canada's Secretary of State for External Affairs was, from 1909 to 1993, the member of the Cabinet of Canada responsible for overseeing the federal government's international relations and the former Department of External Affairs...
Lester Pearson, while he was President of the UN General Assembly in 1957, proposed the concept of UN peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
forces as a means of dealing with the aftermath of the Suez Crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
. He was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
for his efforts and the establishment of the United Nations Emergency Force
United Nations Emergency Force
The first United Nations Emergency Force was established by United Nations General Assembly to secure an end to the 1956 Suez Crisis with resolution 1001 on November 7, 1956. The force was developed in large measure as a result of efforts by UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld and a proposal...
(UNEF). Canada has played a leading role in the UN-led peacekeeping operations ever since it was created in 1945.
Canada and the Security Council
Canada served in the UNSCUnited Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
for 12 years, one of the most of any non-permanent member. It currently shares the third place in the list of countries serving on the Council by length with Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, India
India and the United Nations
India is a charter member of the United Nations and participates in all of its specialized agencies. It has contributed troops to United Nations peacekeeping efforts in Korea, Egypt and the Congo in earlier years and in Somalia, Angola and Rwanda in recent years, and more recently Haiti...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. Canada was elected for the following six terms: 1948-49, 1958–59, 1967–68, 1977–78, 1989–90, and 1999-2000 - once every decade. In 2010, it lost its bid for a seat in the 2010 Security Council elections
United Nations Security Council election, 2010
The 2010 United Nations Security Council election was held on 2010 during the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly, held at United Nations Headquarters in New York City...
, marking the country's first failure to win a seat in the UNSC.
See also
- List of Canadian ambassadors to the United Nations
- United Nations Association in CanadaUnited Nations Association in CanadaThe United Nations Association in Canada engages the Canadian public in the work of the United Nations and the critical international issues which face us all. Canada has been an integral part of the UNA and continues to do so in the future....