CLF’s special consultative status with the United Nations
A Quadrennial Report (2019-2022)
Christian Legal Fellowship is one of 4,341 NGOs worldwide who have been granted special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. The purpose of this consultative relationship is two-fold. First, it allows the United Nations to “secure expert information or advice” from organizations like CLF who “have special competence in the subjects for which consultative arrangements are made.” Second, it enables NGOs like CLF that “represent important elements of public opinion to express their views.”[1]
CLF has a unique expertise in international law; in addition to CLF’s Special Consultative Status with the ECOSOC of the United Nations, CLF has participated in proceedings before international courts such as the Supreme Court of Sweden and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. CLF also has a considerable history of intervening to speak to the importance of international human rights obligations in interpreting fundamental rights and freedoms in Canada, including at the Supreme Court of Canada.
As part of its special consultative status obligations, CLF is required to submit a “Quadrennial Report” to the United Nations every four years. CLF’s 2023 Report was filed May 26 and is reproduced below. It provides an overview of CLF’s work during the 2019-2022 period to promote the fundamental rights and freedoms of Canadians in accordance with the United Nations’ international instruments and recommendations (hyperlinks have been added for further reading).
In 2007, CLF was granted special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
The United Nations Office at Geneva is housed at the historic Palais des Nations (pictured left).
Introduction
Christian Legal Fellowship (CLF), known in French as l'Alliance des chrétiens en droit (ACD), is a national charitable association representing over 700 Christian lawyers, professors, law students, and retired judges.
Aims and Purposes of CHRISTIAN LEGAL FELLOWSHIP
As Canada’s national association of Christian legal professionals, CLF works to uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms. CLF seeks to advance the public good by articulating principles illuminated by our Christian faith and commitment to upholding the inherent equality and dignity of every person.
Contribution of CHRISTIAN LEGAL FELLOWSHIP to the work of the United Nations
CLF has participated in numerous Canadian court cases and policy consultations pertaining to human rights and fundamental freedoms protected in UN instruments as follows:
A. Human trafficking: CLF participated in public and legislative consultations on human trafficking and sexual exploitation, emphasizing Canada’s obligations under the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children (art. 9.5), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (art. 6), and supplementary materials. CLF’s submissions were reflected in two Parliamentary committee reports.
B. Equality: CLF intervened in the challenge of Quebec’s Bill 21 before the Quebec Court of Appeal to uphold the right of every person to participate equally in the public service without discrimination based on religious identity, highlighting the protections of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
C. Freedom of thought and conscience: CLF submitted a written brief on freedom of thought to the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, pursuant to his call for input. The brief drew from academic work that CLF has supported through our annual academic symposia and publications.
D. Religious group autonomy: CLF intervened at the Supreme Court of Canada for the protection of church autonomy in Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church of Canada St. Mary Cathedral v Aga, emphasizing Canada’s international obligations, including the ICCPR (arts. 18, 22) and UDHR (arts. 18, 20). The Supreme Court unanimously re-affirmed that internal membership decisions by religious communities cannot be judicially reviewed by civil courts except in narrow circumstances.
E. Advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities: CLF has repeatedly reminded the Canadian government of their obligations under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, particularly in relation to the expansion of euthanasia in Canada. CLF has highlighted concerns expressed by UN human rights experts in parliamentary consultations, submissions to legislators, and media reports. CLF intervened in the Truchon case before the Quebec Superior Court to defend safeguards around euthanasia which, as UN experts noted, were important to avoid “a two-tiered system in which some would get suicide prevention and others suicide assistance, based on their disability status and specific vulnerabilities”. These safeguards were unfortunately removed – but CLF continues to advocate for these and other protections.
Participation in meetings of the United Nations
CLF contributed written submissions to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, reporting that the Canadian government has failed to respond meaningfully to the serious concerns raised by UN experts on shortcomings in Canada’s framework for supporting persons with disabilities.
Cooperation with United Nations bodies
CLF participated in a consultation conducted by the International Centre for Criminal Law Reform & Criminal Justice Policy (a body formally affiliated with the UN) reviewing the effectiveness of Canada’s implementation of the Palermo Protocol. CLF’s submissions on Canada’s international obligations were reflected and quoted in the ICCLR’s report.
Initiatives taken by Christian Legal Fellowship in support of the Millennium Development Goals / Sustainable Development Goals:
CLF’s work has been complementary to the progress of MDGs and SDGs. For example, CLF has:
• Advocated for more inclusive and equitable education by urging decisionmakers to accommodate religious minorities in public schools and institutions (MDG 2/SDG 4);
• Supported initiatives to reduce inequalities and promote the full and healthy well-being of all, regardless of age, disability, or health conditions, by advocating for important safeguards against potential abuse and harm related to euthanasia, and for conscience protections for health care professionals (SDG 3/10);
• Worked to end sex trafficking to achieve gender equality and support for all women and girls (MDG 3/SDG 5); and,
• Organized special events to commemorate International Women’s Day, the International Day of Conscience, and Human Rights Day (SDG 5/SDG 16).
[1] ECOSOC resolution 1996/31, part II, paragraph 20, cited in “Working with ECOSOC: A NGOs Guide to Consultative Status”, online: <http://csonet.org/content/documents/ECOSOC%20Brochure_2018_Web.pdf>. CLF’s special consultative status also provides “access to not only ECOSOC, but also to its many subsidiary bodies, to the various human rights mechanisms of the United Nations, ad-hoc processes on small arms, as well as special events organized by the President of the General Assembly.” See “How to apply for consultative status with ECOSOC?”, online: <https://www.un.org/development/desa/dspd/civil-society/ecosoc-status.html>.