Hon. Amina Gerba: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.
Senator Moreau, at a talk I gave recently at ESG UQAM, a student named Marie Mirline asked me the following question:
As a Canadian parliamentarian of African descent, what is your position on Canada’s abstention from the United Nations General Assembly vote on the resolution recognizing “the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialised chattel enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity,” adopted on March 25?
Senator Moreau, can the government explain why Canada abstained from the vote on this resolution?
Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for this important question, Senator Gerba. Let me begin by reiterating that slavery and the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved persons were heinous injustices that caused profound and lasting suffering. Canada honours the memory of the millions of victims and their descendants. Canada opposes slavery in all its forms.
The reason Canada abstained from the vote on that UN resolution was a matter of wording, given that the resolution established a hierarchy of crimes against humanity. Canada cannot support a resolution with language that creates a hierarchy of crimes against humanity, that suggests new reparation obligations or that runs counter to ongoing multilateral legal processes. It was essentially a question of how it was worded.
Senator Gerba: I understand that it was a wording issue. In fact, Benin changed its vote. The resolution draws attention to the over 12 million Africans who were enslaved and the millions more who perished on the transatlantic voyage. Does the Government of Canada intend to revisit its position and expressly recognize the enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity?
Senator Moreau: Canada joined with several like-minded partners and abstained, while acknowledging the seriousness of slavery and with respect for existing international legal processes. Our commitment to addressing the after-effects of slavery and supporting constructive dialogue on restorative justice remains firm. Canada would especially like to thank Ghana for its leadership and engagement in advancing dialogue on this important issue.