Canada and the United Nations

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Canada has been a member of the United Nations Organization since the body's creation and has served for 12 years on the Security Council, the third most of any non-permanent member (tied with Colombia). This was spread over six terms: 1948-49, 1958-59, 1967-68, 1977-78, 1989-90, and 1999-2000. Canada has also contributed to more peacekeeping operations that any other member state.

Canada has been an elected member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, since this was founded in 2006.

[edit] History

In the initial set-up of the UN, McGill University law professor John Peters Humphrey established the Division for Human Rights in the UN Secretariat, and remained in charge of the division for twenty years. The initial work of the Division for Human Rights was the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of which Humphrey created the first draft and remained a champion of until its adoption by approval of the UN General Assembly in 1948.

Secretary of State for External Affairs Lester Pearson, while he was President of the UN General Assembly in 1957, proposed the concept of UN peacekeeping forces as a means of dealing with the aftermath of the Suez Crisis. He was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts and the establishment of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF). Canada has played a leading role in the UN-led peacekeeping operations ever since.

[edit] See also

United Nations Portal

• List of Canadian ambassadors to the United Nations
• United Nations Association in Canada

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