Courtesy: Peace River-Westlock MP Arnold Viersen
MP Viersen Elected Vice-Chair of International Human Rights Subcommittee
October 28, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Barrhead, AB – Arnold Viersen, MP for Peace River – Westlock was pleased to be elected as Vice-Chair of the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. MP Viersen was first appointed to the Subcommittee in January.
“I’m honoured to take on this new role as Vice-Chair. Human rights come from the fact that we are created in the image of God and we must ensure they are protected and upheld,” said MP Viersen. “Over the past year I have advocated for studies on modern slavery being fueled by the growing demand for green technology and alarming increase of religious persecution of Christians in Nigeria.”
Currently the Subcommittee is studying the human rights atrocities taking place in Tigray, Ethiopia. Over the past year, the Subcommittee has also studied:
- The Situation of Human Rights in Ukraine and Russia
- The Current Human Rights Situation in Iran
- The Situation of Human Rights Defenders, Journalists and Media Organizations
The Subcommittee is scheduled to study MP Viersen’s request regarding the persecution of Christians in Nigeria in the spring of 2023.
“The Subcommittee on International Human Rights is different from most Parliamentary Committees and operates as a consensus committee,” said MP Viersen. “We focus on producing reports and recommendations supported by all parties. I look forward to continuing the work with my colleagues in all parties to ensure that no person is subject to human rights abuses or exploitation.”
Motion for study submitted by MP Viersen:
That, given the significant increase in persecution of Christians in Nigeria and given the mounting evidence of human rights violations committed by Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province and Fulani militants, and given the ongoing reports of Nigerian Christians being victims of abduction, murder and imprisonment and their villages targeted for destruction, the subcommittee undertake and prioritize a study of the current human rights situation in Nigeria, and that the subcommittee report their findings to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), considering the growing demand for green technology the subcommittee study and report on the role of slavery and human rights abuses in the production of solar panels, wind turbines, lithium-ion batteries, and semiconductors as well as in the extraction of raw materials to produce these technologies; and, that the meetings be televised if possible and that the subcommittee report to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.
Keith Hopper, Trending 55
