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Sikhs, Canada and Human Rights
David Kilgour
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This article
is an edited extract from the speech of the author at the World
Sikh Organisation commemoration of Saka Akal Takht on June 5 in
Ottawa.
The author explores the Sikh character, appraises it, suggests a
bigger role for the Sikh community globally and underlines the
significance of human dignity over and above needs of trade and
development. |
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 The Sikh
community’s commitment as a spiritual community to respecting each
other and humanity at large, regardless of faith, race, or income is
admirable. The reaction of Sikhs to any historical challenge is to
stand up and strengthen society by challenging its prejudices.
The Sikh
community lobbied hard for the right to wear a turban while serving
our country in the R.C.M.P., thereby challenging Canada's commitment
to cultural inclusiveness. The Sikhs supported a youth who fought
for his right to carry the kirpan to school, thereby helping
to define religious freedom within our educational systems. The
kirpan and the turban are symbolic reminders that Sikhs must
stand up for anyone of need of help. The Sikhs as a community not
only speaks, but acts for truth, equality, and justice.
The Sikhs make
Canada
and the global community a more vibrant and just place not only for
Sikhs, but for all of us. For this, the Sikh community deserves the
profound thanks and respect of Canadians as a whole.
Candidly, I wish
that the Sikh community, which is doing so well, would do even more
to help other communities across Canada and the world.
The concerns
that the Sikhs raise about human rights and trade is another
instance of your ability to adapt historic concerns to modern
realities. The Asia-Pacific has become Canada's second largest
trade partner, and we all have a responsibility to apply our concern
for human rights violations to our economic relationships throughout
the region. Canada cannot strike a balance between human rights
advocacy and the promotion of trade without recognizing the
importance of human dignity, commitment to human rights advocacy and
the acceptance that promotion of human rights and international
trade are not mutually exclusive.
 Human dignity is
increasingly indivisible across the world today. No people or nation
can prosper for long nowadays without the active co-operation of
other governments and peoples. Pressure from citizens is what
causes many democratic governments to do the correct thing for
responsible reasons. Economic greed must never trump the dignity and
rights of other peoples.
Our commitment
to human rights advocacy should not be compromised by an effort to
increase trade anywhere. The argument is made that the primary goal
ought to be to promote trade; if that means turning a blind eye to
human rights violations, so be it. I could not disagree more.
Fundamental rights, including, the right to life, to religious
freedom, to live in a system where torture by government is
absolutely prohibited and the right to one's cultural heritage,
should be non-negotiable.
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What Sikhs
have experienced in different places, times and circumstances,
has only made them stronger and better able to forge ahead. |
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Promoting human
rights and international trade are not mutually exclusive; quite the
opposite. In most cases, Canada is far more influential with states
with which we have strong economic ties. Canada has been one of the
most effective human dignity advocates in the world, largely because
other states trust us, and this trust is built on interdependence,
familiarity, and common interest - all strengthened by trade and
investment.
Furthermore,
human rights are closely tied to standard of living. According to
the United Nations Development Programmed, 1.2 billion members of
our human family live on less than $1 a day. Poverty often denies
them the right to an education and usually freedom of movement.
Canadian trade with the Asia-Pacific countries helps to combat
poverty and to enable at least some poor families to access the
dignity they deserve. Promoting trade and ensuring that people
everywhere live with basic human rights and in peace are in fact
complementary and must be approached hand in hand.
Living in peace
and respecting human rights is not a problem to be fixed exclusively
by governments. Our businesses need to act in a socially responsible
manner, and civil society needs to promote justice and equality
rather than reinforce prejudices. The best way to guarantee rights
is for civil society everywhere to act as the eyes, ears, and mouth
of the cause.
International
NGOs are also an effective way of monitoring what goes on within
other countries. I understand the WSO is attempting to gain NGO
status. With or without it, I am sure that you will continue to
speak out for those who are unable to speak, and bring their plight
to the attention of Canadians generally. Together, governments and
civil society stand the best chance at finding and helping those in
need.
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Promoting
trade and ensuring that people everywhere live with basic human
rights and in peace are in fact complementary and must be
approached hand in hand. Together, governments and civil society
stand the best chance at finding and helping those in need. |
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What Sikhs have
experienced in different places, times and circumstances, has only
made them stronger and better able to forge ahead. Sometimes it has
taken them very long to obtain rightful redress (e.g. the Komagata
Maru matter in 1914, when 376 passengers, mostly Sikhs, were not
allowed to disembark from a Japanese steamship in
Vancouver).
Canadians at large have learned much about Sikhs and Sikhism since
1984 and have come to better understand both.
David Kilgour is
a fellow at Queen's University Centre for the Study of Democracy and
a director of the Council for a Community of Democracies (CCD). He
is a veteran Canadian parliamentarian who has been elected seven
times. He is a die-hard human rights advocate and a specialist on
Rwanda.
He may be contacted at
is:dwkilgour@gmail.com.
9
July, 2008
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