Canada: Enero 2008 Archives

Human rights advocates surprised at government's assertion that UN convention on torture isn't a constraint

BILL CURRY

January 9, 2008

OTTAWA -- The federal government drew the ire of human rights advocates yesterday for telling an inquiry that Canada was justified in working with countries accused of engaging in torture.

Justice Department lawyer Michael Peirce also told the internal inquiry yesterday that the United Nations Convention Against Torture is not a factor in deciding whether to send information to countries such as Syria and Egypt about Canadians detained there.