MÉLANIE JOLY, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Canada, underscoring that United Nations Headquarters is located on the traditional territory of the Lenape people, recalled that today, her country marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, commemorating Indigenous Peoples.  “We recognize the pain caused by decades of abuse, negligence and racism,” she said, urging to commit to doing better and to rectifying the errors of the past in order to move forward together.  “Often, the people who claim to speak for freedom are the same people who want the Government to decide who people can love, who they are or even what they can wear,” she observed, adding that in Afghanistan it has been taken to the extreme, as the Taliban continue to impose inhumane rules against women and girls.  Last week, Canada joined Australia, Germany, the Netherlands and 22 other countries to hold Afghanistan accountable under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, she said, adding that:  “The Taliban cannot make international law disappear through simple decrees.”

Turning to Haiti, she stressed that the world cannot sit idly by as people suffer.  “Gang violence and unchecked corruption in Haiti have created a disaster for the population,” she noted, reminding that Canada has invested more than $100 million to support Haitians.  As thousands have been killed in Israel, Gaza and Lebanon, including many Canadians, she said this is a senseless war that goes against the dignity of human beings. “The suffering — on all sides — must end,” she stressed, urging Israel and Hizbullah to accept an immediate ceasefire.  “There cannot be war in Lebanon.  Full stop,” she said.  “Innocent Palestinians, women and children, cannot pay the price of defeating Hamas.  It must end.” As violence against Palestinians by extremist settlers and expansion of settlements by Israel in the West Bank continue unabated, this is unacceptable, she emphasized, pledging to officially recognize the State of Palestine at the right time, when it is most conducive to building a lasting peace.

“Russia needs to get out of Ukraine now and the Ukrainian people have the right to be free from fear, free from aggression,” she continued, noting that many countries in the region and the hemisphere are wondering if they will be next.  “Canada will not back down from its support for Ukraine,” she vowed, announcing that her country will host a conference co-organized with Norway and Ukraine on the human dimension of Ukraine’s 10‑point peace formula.  “We will focus on the return of children to their families as well as deported civilians and prisoners of war,” she said.  Observing that critics of the United Nations accuse it of incapability to solve the problems the world is currently facing, she stressed that the Organization is not perfect but progress is possible.  “For nearly 80 years, no woman has occupied the position of Secretary-General — this is unacceptable,” she continued, stating that the next leader of this illustrious institution must be a woman and expressing hope that delegates at the Assembly in 2025 will address Madam President.  “We, women, have the right to be equal in everything:  education, in employment and every other opportunity,” she said.