Human rights in India trade deals
Petitioners ask that Canada require human-rights clauses in trade agreements with India, impose targeted sanctions on extremists inciting violence against religious minorities, and pursue human-rights dialogue. The government responds that it raises human-rights concerns with India, uses an autonomous sanctions regime, and promotes freedom of religion.
Why we would sign this petition
- Conditioning trade deals would tie Canadian economic leverage to human‑rights improvements, creating a clear incentive for India to address abuses against religious minorities.
- Targeted sanctions focus on perpetrators and instigators, offering accountability and deterrence without broad, economy‑wide penalties.
- A structured human‑rights dialogue preserves bilateral relations while creating a predictable forum to monitor progress and resolve concerns.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Conditioning trade agreements risks harming bilateral economic ties and Canadian exporters, reducing leverage and cooperation that could otherwise support change.
- Sanctions may be ineffective or provoke retaliatory responses, and could entrench hardline actors rather than stop violence.
- The government already raises rights concerns and uses sanctions; some may prefer multilateral or engagement‑based approaches that avoid bilateral escalation.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following: Whereas: The US Commission on International Religious Freedom reported that various actors in India have advocated, instituted, and enforced sectarian policies seeking to establish India as an overtly Hindu state, contrary to India's secular and pluralistic foundation, posing grave danger to India's religious minorities; Christians in India are facing targeted attacks by extremists, with 486 incidents of anti-Christian attacks in 2021 according to the United Christian Forum, and over 300 attacks reported as of July 2022, including widespread documentation of Church vandalism, assaults of Church workers, and Christian congregations threatened and humiliated; Crimes against Dalit groups, including Dalit women and girls, are reported every hour according to a 2021 report by the National Crime Records Bureau, with the total cases increasing to 50,900 in 2021 compared with 50,291 in 2020; and Indian Muslims are at risk of genocide according to NGO Genocide Watch, which documented "signs and processes" of genocide in India, further supported by credible reports indicating that growing Muslim minorities are subject to planned and targeted threats, assault, sexual violence and killings. Therefore, we, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to: 1. Formally ensure that all trade deals with India, including the Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA), Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), and the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA), are premised on mandatory human rights provisions; 2. Initiate targeted sanctions against extremists guilty of inciting violence against religious minorities in India; and 3. Promote mutually respectful and mutually beneficial human rights dialogue between Canada and India.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Rob Oliphant The promotion and protection of human rights has long been an integral part of Canada’s foreign policy. Canada believes that human rights are the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world. Canada remains a firm and consistent voice, speaking up for the protection and promotion of human rights and the advancement of democratic values. Canada’s autonomous sanctions regime is one of many tools that support this important work. In meetings with counterparts from the Government of India, Canadian officials regularly raise issues of human rights and the rule of law. The government remains committed to monitoring issues of human rights, such as freedom of religion or belief and the protection of the rights of persons belonging to minority groups around the world, on an ongoing basis. Canada is also committed to promoting freedom of religion or belief internationally and at home, working with partners to create a climate of inclusion and respect for diversity and against the persecution of minorities on the grounds of religion or belief. No person or group should face restrictions on the freedom to practise their faith or belief, whether in the form of laws, policies, or actions or through harassment or violence. It causes suffering and division and leads to a climate of fear, intolerance, and stigmatization. Canada will continue to stand up for this freedom while promoting diversity and inclusion for all. Reflecting this commitment to promoting freedom of religion or belief, Canada founded and co-chairs the International Contact Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief, which brings together a diverse group of countries and organizations to address the growing repression of the individual’s right to believe or not believe and the individual’s right to worship freely. The Government of Canada also published Voices at Risk: Canada’s Guidelines on Supporting Human Rights Defenders to outline Canada’s approach and offer practical advice for officials at Canadian missions abroad and at Headquarters to implement Canada’s commitment to human rights. The Government of Canada is committed to creating economic opportunities through initiatives such as trade agreements so that more Canadians, including under-represented groups, can engage in, and benefit from, trade, while at the same time advancing broader social, labour, and environmental priorities for Canada, such as inclusive economic growth through international trade and the promotion of human rights. Fostering greater engagement and closer ties with countries through trade agreements allows Canada to promote Canadian values, such as human rights, democracy, openness, respect for the rule of law, and rules-based international trade.