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National Security
| “On the one hand stands the manifest evil of terrorism and the random and arbitrary taking of innocent lives, rippling out in an ever-widening spiral of loss and fear. Governments, expressing the will of the governed, need the legal tools to meet this challenge.
On the other hand stands the need to ensure that those legal tools do not undermine the values that are fundamental to our democratic society — liberty, the rule of law, and the principles of fundamental justice — values that lie at the heart of the Canadian constitutional order and the international instruments Canada has signed. In the end, it would be a Pyrrhic victory if terrorism were defeated at the cost of sacrificing our commitment to those values. Parliament’s challenge is to draft laws that effectively combat terrorism and conform to the requirements of our Constitution and our international commitments.”
R. v. Suresh, (2002), Supreme Court of Canada
Post 9/11 national security measures have resulted in complicity in torture, arbitrary and indefinite detentions, secret evidence, racial profiling, and denial of due process and fair trial rights. These measures violate our Constitution and Canada’s international legal obligations.
CCLA calls for national security measures which comply with our Charter and international law, upholding our commitments to human dignity, life, liberty, the rule of law and fundamental justice.
Through litigation and advocacy, CCLA works for accountability and compliance with Canada’s legal obligations. The key issues in our national security work are:
- Privacy & National Security
- Fair Trial & Due Process
- Absolute Prohibition Against Torture
- Security Certificates
>> Read CCLA’s Afghan detainees case fact sheet |
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- Watch Canada Live Before the UN CAT
By Sukanya Pillay on May 21, 2012 On Monday May 21, 2012 and Tuesday May 22, 2012, Canada will be appearing before the UN Committee Against Torture. Canada will engage in a constructive dialogue with Committee Members, regarding Canada’s implementation of, and compliance with, the UN Convention Against Torture.
To watch Canada’s appearance before the UN Committee Against Torture LIVE click here http://www.treatybodywebcast.org/
Canada [...]
Category: Canadians Detained Abroad, Counter Terrorism, Fair Trial and Due Process, National Security, National Security Privilege and Disclosure of Evidence, Privacy and National Security, Torture - CCLA Appears Before UN Committee Against Torture
By Sukanya Pillay on May 18, 2012 Geneva:
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association today made a presentation to members of the UN Committee Against Torture, at the United Nations Palais Wilson in Geneva. The Committee is comprised of ten legal experts from around the world, charged with overseeing how State Parties implement the Convention at home.
CCLA presented highlights from our report to [...]
Category: Canadians Detained Abroad, Counter Terrorism, Fair Trial and Due Process, National Security, National Security Privilege and Disclosure of Evidence, Privacy and National Security, Torture - Happy Birthday Charter of Rights and Freedoms!
By Communications on April 17, 2012 “There is a song by Jean-Pierre Ferland that romanticizes that it is at 30 that women are beautiful. Before, so the rhyming goes, women are only pretty. Is the Charter beautiful at 30? Has its features grown harmoniously? Does it project an air of maturity without cynicism or a sense of capabilities without [...]
Category: Announcements, Equality, Fundamental Freedoms, Multimedia and Features, National Security, News Highlights, Op-Ed, Public Safety
Features & Multimedia
Happy Birthday Charter of Rights and Freedoms!
“There is a song by Jean-Pierre Ferland that romanticizes that it is at 30 that women are beautiful. Before, so the rhyming goes, women are only pretty. Is the Charter beautiful at 30? Has its features grown harmoniously? Does it project an air of maturity without cynicism or a sense of capabilities without [...]
CCLA on The Agenda – Securing Cyberspace
Last week, we invited you to sign a petition to ask the government to not pass legislation that would severely weaken Canadians’ online privacy, legislation that every single provincial privacy commissioner has stepped up to criticize this legislation. On Friday, CCLA’s Sukanya Pillay participated in The Agenda, on TVO, to discuss cybersecurity. You can [...]
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