Archive | John P. Humphrey, Canadian Human Rights Architect

Canadian lawyer John Humphrey dedicated to building and defending the universal human rights protection system.

John P. Humphrey devoted himself during his career at the United Nations and then as a professor of international law, to building and defending the universal system of protection of human rights. He died on March 14, 1995.

In 2001, the show Montréal ce soir asked viewers if there were people we should honor memory in Montreal by erecting monuments to them.

Reynald Adams suggests to journalist Jean-Hugues Roy, during the June 22 broadcast, that Montreal should honor one of its adopted citizens, John P. Humphrey.

Journalist Jean-Hugues Roy discusses with viewer Reynald Adams the possibility of erecting a statue in Montreal in honor of John P. Humphrey.

According to Reynald Adams, a statue erected in honor of John P. Humphrey would recognize the immense contribution of this jurist in the field of the defense of human rights.

In 1948 , he wrote the preliminary draft of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. John P. Humphrey would probably have used the term “human rights” if he was writing the document today.

This document, officially adopted on December 10, 1948, constitutes the foundation on which the UN system for the protection of fundamental human rights was subsequently built.

But John P. Humphrey does not didn't stop there.

Until 1966, he was the first head of the human rights division of the United Nations.

During this period, it will put to paper 67 international conventions protecting various aspects of human rights.

As if that weren't enough, he also wrote the constitutions of 12 countries.

At the same time, he served on several commissions of inquiry into human rights violations. the person across the planet.

We should note in this chapter his fight so that Korean women, used as sexual slaves by the Japanese army during the Second World War, receive compensation.

Reynald Adams notes that the City of Ottawa honored John P. Humphrey with a commemorative plaque unveiled in 1998 by none other than Nelson Mandela.

Montréal has already considered honoring the jurist during of the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1998.

The project, however, fell into oblivion.

Reynal Adams offers to revive the project.

He wants a commemorative monument to be erected at the corner of Avenue du Parc and Avenue des Pins. Or that we change the name of Avenue des Pins to Avenue John Humphrey.

Interview with John P. Humphrey on the occasion of the 16th anniversary of the adoption of the Bill of Human Rights the man

December 10, 1963, the broadcastTodayasks John P. Humphrey about the impact of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on the 16th anniversary of its adoption.

He is optimistic.

While the Universal Declaration cannot impose constraints on States, it has nevertheless had a profound influence on the evolution of international law, as well as on the national law of certain countries.

John P. Humphrey then cites the names of several African countries which have incorporated the principles of the Universal Declaration into their own national laws or into their constitution.

“If we cannot create means, adequate, effective implementation mechanisms, as we have in Canada for example […] I say that this planet has no future.

—John P. Humphrey, December 10, 1988

On December 10, 1988, the international community celebrated the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Host Robert Guy Scully interviews John P. Humphrey on the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The host of the showImpactRobert Guy Scully receives John P. Humphrey on this occasion.

The interview focuses in part on the genesis of the elaboration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

This document, which represents “the common standard to be achieved by all peoples and all nations”, sets out a wide range of rights covering all aspects of life.

Its first article summarizes the idea of ​​fundamental human rights in a formula that has become famous.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

John P. Humphrey points out that he has gone very far in its definition of fundamental rights.

It even included in its outline notions of economic, social and cultural rights.

He insisted, for example, on the integration of the notion of the right to enjoy access to culture for all human beings.

In response, some member countries of the United Nations, including the United States, accused him of being a communist.

The interview also recalls that the government of Canadian Prime Minister Louis Saint-Laurent initially took a stand against the draft Universal Declaration because it went too far in its definition rights.

It was only when Canada realized that this attitude placed it on the same side as communist countries that it changed course and voted to adopt the Declaration.

Running throughout the interview, John P. Humphrey insists that his generation only created the conditions necessary to uphold basic human rights.

It is up to younger generations to build mechanisms for applying the principles set out in the 1948 Declaration.

Far from being an idealistic position, respect for human rights is, according to him, a very realistic position.

John P. Humphrey sees an indissoluble link between respect for fundamental rights and the maintenance of international peace.

Without respect for human rights, without the implementation of mechanisms for their application, the jurist fears that the future of the planet will be compromised.

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