Petitions

Mr. Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre, NDP): Mr. Speaker, today I rise to present a petition signed by prominent leaders in the Iranian Canadian community. A similar petition has been signed by thousands of human rights advocates, particularly from the Iranian …

Egypt

The Children’s Republic

Mr. Paul Dewar ( Ottawa Centre, NDP): 
 
Mr. Speaker, next week, the Great Canadian Theatre Company will be launching the premier performance of the The Children’s Republic.
 
This play is the story of Dr. Janusz Korczak, a champion of children’s rights who ran a remarkable orphanage in pre-world war Poland . After the Nazi invasion, Janusz followed the Jewish orphans into the Warsaw ghetto to protect their rights and dignity.
 

Canada must directly demand Bahari’s release from Iran

OTTAWA – New Democrat Foreign Affairs critic Paul Dewar is calling on the Minister of Foreign Affairs to take advantage of his trip to the United Nations to directly demand of his Iranian counterpart the immediate release of Canadian journalist Maziar Bahari from Iran’s custody.

“Minister Cannon has a unique opportunity to raise this case and build up the international pressure on the Iranian authorities to ensure the release of Maziar Bahari,” said Dewar. “Protest is important and symbolic, but not enough. We want to see the Minister actively raising the demand for Mr. Bahari’s release with his Iranian counterparts.”

Canadians for Action Darfur

Mr. Speaker, I also wish to present a petition on the humanitarian catastrophe in Darfur, as some of my colleagues have.

Hezbollah’s attack on the Lebanese Government

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are concerned about the recent escalation and violence in Lebanon. We hear news reports that 10 people are dead, 20 people are wounded, and those are just recent reports.

Israel at 60

Mr. Speaker, this week the world pauses to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of Israel. Significantly, this year we also mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

NDP supports non-participation in flawed UN conference

OTTAWA – The NDP is deeply committed to fighting racism and intolerance in Canada and around the world, said NDP Foreign Affairs Critic Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre) and NDP International Human Rights Critic Wayne Marston (Hamilton-East Stoney Creek).

Darfur – Situation getting worse

"Mr. Speaker, the situation in Darfur is again getting worse. In order for the UN peacekeeping mission to go ahead it needs helicopters. The UN Secretary General recently said the mission will be put at great risk if it does not receive the helicopters it needs.