United States - Universal Periodic Review

UPR 36, November 9, 2020
Recommendations by Canada

Recommendations

Thank you, Madam President.

Canada commends the United States for its active fight against human trafficking, and welcomes the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling protecting gay, lesbian, and transgender employees from workplace discrimination based on sexual identity and orientation.

Canada recommends that the United States:

1. Enhance measures to address racial disparities and discrimination and to improve police-community relations.
2. Take action to support equitable access to sexual and reproductive health and rights services, and review policies that effectively limit foreign assistance for sexual and reproductive health and rights services abroad.
3. Re-engage in the United Nations Human Rights Council and ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
4. Introduce a federal moratorium on the death penalty aiming at complete abolition.

Canada and the United States have a long history of collaboration in support of human rights, and Canada continues to encourage the United States to play a leadership role in the multilateral human rights system.

Background

The United States was founded on ideals of freedom and equality, and its history is marked by great strides towards these aspirations. The protection of human rights is enshrined in the United States’ foundational documents and in numerous laws, is reflected in the country’s adherence to the UN Declaration of Human Rights, and is defended by a vibrant civil society.

Despite achieving high levels of civil and human rights legal protection, the United States continues to struggle with racial disparities and discrimination, especially anti-black racism, including as it relates to economic well-being and the criminal justice system, and instances of excessive force by police. Canada is also concerned by limitations in accessing sexual and reproductive health and rights services, the resumption of federal executions, and the United States’ withdrawal from the United Nations Human Rights Council.