Ed Broadbent

International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development

Tuesday, June 13, 1995

8 p.m.
Burke Education Building @ Saint Mary's University (off Inglis Street)

The G-7 and the Challenge of Human Rights

Capital goods and services move more rapidly around the globe than ever before. The same cannot be said for human rights and freedoms, still violently repressed in many of the G-7's trading partners. Trade and human rights are not separate, contradictory agendas -- they should both be vigourously pursued. What can the G-7 do to ensure that international economic deals include human rights protection?
Edward Broadbent was born on the 21st of March 1936 in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. After graduating first in his class in philosophy at the University of Toronto, he went on to post-graduate work there and at the London School of Economics. He obtained his Ph.D. in political science at the University of Toronto in 1965 and joined the faculty of York University. In 1968 Mr. Broadbent left York University to enter politics. Throughout his leadership of the New Democratic Party from 1975 to 1989, his commitment to fairness was reflected in his struggle for an equitable tax system, equality for women and the constitutional entrenchment of aboriginal rights. He was made a member of the Privy Council on the 17th of April 1982. His final speech in Parliament, in December 1989 reflected his concern for economic rights, as Mr. Broadbent gave a passionate plea for a resolution, unanimously adopted by the House of Commons, committing the Government of Canada to end Poverty for Canada's children by the year 2000. Mr. Broadbent was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1993.
Since his appointment as President of the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development in 1990, Mr. Broadbent has worked to show the relationship between human rights, democracy and development and has been a forceful advocate for democracy in Haiti and Burma. In February of 1993, Mr. Broadbent led a mission of Nobel Peace Laureates to Thailand to appeal for the release of Aung San Sui Kyi. In June of 1993, he was one of four international judges to sit on the Tribunal of Violations of Women's Rights at the UN Conference on Human Rights in Vienna. He has also been active in calling for effective UN intervention in Rwanda and other human rights crises. He has played a leading role in Canada in linking human rights in international trade agreements, and defending the rights of refugee women. In October of 1994, Mr. Broadbent was a member of the panel of experts on the popular International Tribunal on Rights in Haiti, and continues to act as international advisor to Haiti's Truth Commission.