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Well thank you very much Joy and distinguished
guests, honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen.
It's an honour and privilege to be here.
I am very pleased to be here today to present the
John Diefenbaker Defender of Human Rights and Freedom Award.
This award, named in honour of Canada’s 13th prime minister,
recognizes individuals or groups who have demonstrated exceptional
courage and leadership in defending human rights and freedoms at
home and indeed around the world.
It is fitting that, as Joy mentioned in her introduction, this awards ceremony takes place in a building
named after Mr. Diefenbaker. During his six years
as prime minister, Mr. Diefenbaker dedicated attention and energy
to protecting and promoting freedom and human rights not just at home,
but around the world. The Bill of Rights in 1960
was a large part of his legacy. It was also
his efforts in the anti-apartheid statement in 1961, which contributed
to the withdrawal of South Africa’s from the Commonwealth of Nations.
The protection and promotion of human rights is a hallmark of
Canada’s foreign policy under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
We do not simply seek to do
what is popular, or expedient, for the sake
of making it easier on ourselves.
Instead, we are honourable in our dealings. And we do
what is principled, and what is right, all in
the name of freedom, democracy, human rights
and the rule of law. These are
Canadian values. And they are values that
should not be reserved for a select few, but enjoyed
by all. Canada stands
with the brave defenders of human rights around
the world who courageously seek to promote and
protect fundamental freedoms, often at great risk
to themselves and their families.
The recipients of today’s John Diefenbaker awards have displayed extraordinary courage
and commitment to the cause of freedom. Shahbaz Bhatti
was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan in 2008,
and named Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs.
It was a post that he enthusiastically accepted,
he said, “for the sake of the oppressed, downtrodden and marginalized of Pakistan.”
that he accepted his new responsibilities.
He declared that he would dedicate his life “to
the struggle for human equality, for justice, and for religious
freedom, and to uplift and empower the religious minorities.”
Minister Bhatti took steps in support of religious minorities,
launching a national campaign to promote interfaith harmony,
proposing legislation to ban hate speech and literature, and
proposing comparative religion as a curriculum subject.
in schools. Minister Bhatti was not
silenced by the obvious risks to his own safety. He continued to speak
out even after the assassination of a fellow advocate for tolerance
in Pakistan, Governor Salman Taseer of Punjab province, in
January 2011. Tragically,
Shahbaz Bhatti paid the ultimate price. On March 2,
2011, in Islamabad, on his way to work, he was cowardly assassinated
He was only 42 years old.
And as a 42 year old minister myself
you realise how much he had to contribute to his responsibilities.
Just one month earlier, Shahbaz Bhatti was here
in Canada, visiting Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Jason Kenney,
before parliamentary committee and
it struck us all when he was taken from us.
The news of Mr. Bhatti’s passing left a hole in the hearts of many. It crossed
oceans, it touched every one of us to see someone doing what is
right, doing what is just, so hastily and tragically
silenced. That should never be the case.
Each of us should reject that outright.
Benazir Bhutto once said, “You can imprison a man, but not an idea.
You can exile a man, but not an idea.
You can even kill a man, but not an idea.” These words
ring ever true in our quest to realize and spread fundamental freedoms.
[applause]
We
continue to urge Pakistan to repeal its laws criminalizing
blasphemy. We continue to push the issue of religious freedom at every
turn. We do this, in no small part, in memory of
Shahbaz Bhatti. And I can tell you the commitment and
actions that we will soon take in the establishment of an office of religious freedoms
was very much inspired by the minister. And all
the good that it does in the years and decades ahead will be
inspired and because of his leadership, which is the ultimate tribute
that we can pay to him. Here, we are honoured to have with us today
his mother, Martha Bhatti, and his brother, Peter Bhatti,
who will accept this award on his behalf. Today
I am also very pleased and we are here to honour Susana Trimarco and the
Fundación María de los Ángeles, which she created.
Susana Trimarco is the mother of Marita Verón who,
in April 2002, was kidnapped at the age of 23
by a criminal network of human traffickers.
In the search for her daughter, she began a personal quest that revealed
a network of brothels run by traffickers across Argentina
and as far away as Spain. She discovered many women and
girls who were victims of human trafficking. Braving
a number of threats to her life, she has continued her investigations
into the illegal sex trade and established the foundation in her daughter’s name
to help victims of human trafficking reinsert themselves
back into society. The foundation advocates for stronger government
policies to combat human trafficking on behalf of mothers who have
lost children to these reprehensible acts,
and it seeks to raise awareness through media outreach and training
to judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officials.
Through her work, she is responsible for finding 150
victims of human trafficking, and has for many years helped
them recover their livelihoods. She has been instrumental
in raising awareness in Argentina, and throughout Latin America and
the Caribbean, about this important issue. I understand
that in great part due to her efforts, Argentina passed its first
national law against human trafficking just three and a half years
ago. Your work with - that is definitely worth
applauding. [applause]
Your work and the
foundation named after your daughter had touched many people.
I ask you to take heart in the knowledge that you have made, and continue to make, a difference in the lives
of those around you. Not just the people you serve but the great
example you set for others around the world. To the many women
you help, you represent hope, and that is truly a precious gift,
because hope inspires, as nothing else can inspire, a passion
for the possible. I should also say that our
colleague in the House of Commons, Joy Smith, has been a huge advocate on
this file and one with which you can take great pride in your leadership Joy
so we're thrilled that you could be here to MC today's event.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am honoured, on behalf of the Government of Canada, to formally acknowledge
the invaluable contributions of Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti and Ms.
Susana Trimarco to the promotion and protection of freedom
and human rights. To conclude let me
paraphrase the late Bobby Kennedy who said "Few people can change
the course of history, but each of us, working toward further freedom,
human dignity and respect, will be able to write the history
of our generation, and a foundation for the world we
leave behind." William Wilberforce once proclaimed
in the British House of Commons: “You may choose to look the other way
Susana Trimarco to the promotion and protection of freedom
faced with injustice,
we must never look the other way.
Our commitment must not relent. Our resolve
must not weaken. Together, our voices can help promote freedom,
democracy, human rights and the rule of law around the world.
Thank you for your efforts in that regard and for demonstrating your commitment
by being here this afternoon. Thank you very much.