IHRP submits shadow report on UN's Universal Periodic Review of Canada

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

To assist the UN Human Rights Council with its upcoming review of Canada, the IHRP has submitted a "shadow report" that highlights ongoing rights violations against women with mental health issues imprisoned in Canadian penitentiaries. A copy of the IHRP's submission is available here.

The IHRP's submission will be considered by the UN as part of Canada's Universal Periodic Review, which will take place in Geneva in Spring 2013. The Universal Periodic Review allows for the review of every UN member state, every four years. 
 
As part of its last review in 2009, the Human Rights Council recommended that Canada "closely monitor the situation of...women prisoners." In its shadow report, the IHRP finds that the Correctional Service of Canada's treatment of federally-sentenced women with mental health issues violates their rights to health and non-discrimination, and in some circumstances constitutes cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. The IHRP's submission is based on its May 2012 report, Cruel, Inhuman, and Degrading? Canada's Treatment of Federally-Sentenced Women with Mental Health Issues, available here.
 
The Director of the IHRP, Renu Mandhane, will be interviewed about the IHRP submission on tonight's edition (Tuesday, October 9th, 2012) of CTV National News at 11:00 p.m. EST,