Blog

Content warning: This message contains references to violence, racism and Islamophobia 

By Ketty Nivyabandi, Secretary General and Mohamed Huque, Chair of the Board 

We are all reflecting in the aftermath of the horrific and devastating Sunday evening attack that left four members of a Muslim family dead in London, Ontario.  

London police have said they believe the attack was intentional and that the family was targeted because of their Islamic faith. A 20-year-old man has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder. 

This family was killed while doing something most of us do every day – going for a walk – because of who they were. Not only were four innocent lives taken, but now a 9-year-old boy must face life without his parents, grandparent, and sister. 

Our hearts break for this young boy, for the loved ones of this family, and the broader Muslim community, who are now grieving this tragic loss. No one should be made to feel unsafe in their community. 

I am excited to announce the unveiling of model legislation called the Corporate Respect for Human Rights and the Environment Abroad Act. If adopted, this law would require Canadian companies to prevent human rights and environmental harm throughout their global operations and supply chains (and if a company causes harm or fails to do its human rights and environmental due diligence, those affected would have the statutory right to bring a civil lawsuit against that company in Canadian court). 

Similar laws are in place or being developed in several countries, however Canada is falling behind. Together with the Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability, Amnesty Canada urges Canadian law makers to adopt our model law to strengthen corporate accountability. The world is watching: over 150 organizations and unions that work with people impacted by the activities of Canadian companies in 32 countries around the world have endorsed the CNCA’s proposed law.

By Michael Lynk and Ketty Nivyabandi

Once again, missiles and rockets flew between Israel and Gaza. When the ceasefire was finally declared on Thursday, at least 242 Palestinians – including at least 66 children – in Gaza had been killed, along with 10 Israelis, including two children. At least 14 Palestinians in the West Bank protesting the violence in Gaza were killed by Israeli security forces. Gaza suffered immense property destruction. And 75,000 Palestinians were forced to seek shelter in UN schools and other locations to escape the missiles.

As international human rights observers, we believe that the firing by Israel of missiles and shells into heavily populated areas of Gaza, its dreadful toll on civilians, property destruction and bombing of international media offices constitute war crimes. We also believe that the firing of rockets by Palestinian armed groups into Israeli urban areas violates international law. These actions must be investigated by the International Criminal Court.

The Government of Canada must do more to prevent human rights abuses by Canadian companies operating overseas.

In 2019, Canada created the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise, but failed to give the ombudsperson the powers needed to conduct effective investigations into human rights abuses involving Canadian companies. Amnesty continues to press the government to give the Ombudsperson the power to compel documents and testimony.