The Honourable Bob Rae, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations in New York and this year’s guest speaker at the Paul Buteux Memorial Lecture, opened the conference to an audience of over 400 at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. He lamented the failure of the UN to recognize, address and prevent the terrors we see today. Ambassador Rae began his speech by quoting Blaise Pascal, who, 400 years ago, declared that justice without force is powerless, but force without justice is tyranny. This statement is as relevant today as it was then. Regardless of the UN’s struggles, the Ambassador invited the audience to recognize that the organization was not designed to solve every conflict and every injustice. Since its creation, we have seen gains in human rights around the world. There are no more empires, and we have developed vaccines. However, what was beginning to look like a rule of law 80 years ago, is again becoming a rule of force. Ambassador Rae is clear-eyed about the challenges the UN faces.

The second day of the conference, held at UM’s Fort Garry Campus, began with a panel entitled ‘UN Peacekeeping,’ featuring current and retired service members who participated in various UN missions. Both Canadian and Peruvian military shared their experiences in various UN-led operations and peacekeeping missions, including MINUSMA (Mali), UNMIS (Sudan), MINUSTAH (Haiti), and United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). Panellists spoke on the varying degrees of successes and failures of mission mandates and the reasoning behind them. The uniqueness of this panel came from a combination of factual and informative accounts paired with very personal stories about what happened on the ground during these missions.

The second panel, entitled ‘the UN of the Present and Future,’ showcased academics from UM speaking to issues of Indigenous participation and recognition at the UN, UN reform, and the UN’s complexities when addressing and prosecuting acts of genocide. From the obstacles created by the veto wielded by five states (the Permanent Members) to the failure to prevent and recognize acts of mass atrocities and aggression, the UN is far from perfect. But even with its imperfections, it is the only multilateral organization to effectively and legally create lasting change in the world. The Charter, therefore, should be viewed as a living instrument that can be interpreted contemporarily to deal with evolving international complexities. The day concluded with a keynote address from the Honourable Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, Canada’s Former Minister of Foreign Affairs. Dr. Axworthy underscored sentiments preached by Mr. Rae and the panellists about the importance of cooperation among states and Canada’s important role in creating a more peaceful world.

This year’s PSSC was attended by numerous local and international guests, including staff and students from UM, University of North Dakota, West Point Military Academy, multiple high schools as well as the general public. As a student-run conference, the PSSC enables a new generation of future political leaders, activists and academics to engage in essential topics of today’s ever-changing world. In addition to the invaluable insights attendees gain from speakers, one of the greatest learning opportunities that stem from events like these lies in their foundation. The process of organizing this conference enabled student volunteers to enhance various skills ranging from media, communications and detailed planning, to leadership, time management and, perhaps most importantly, teamwork. Such skills can be brought into students’ future workplace and volunteer opportunities. Overall, the conference provided a thoughtful exploration of how the UN has evolved, adapted, and prevailed despite events ranging from great power quarrels to civil wars and even genocide. The UN remains at the cornerstone of solving issues pertaining to international peace and security, fostering dialogue and providing aid. The UN advances dialogue between states that possess varying systems of governance, opposing religions and distinctive social and cultural views. Differences will always be a challenge, but finding common ground despite dissimilarities is the mandate of the UN. In a similar fashion, the PSSC attempts to do the same.

Listen to the 2025 Paul Buteux Memorial Lecture with Hon. Bob Rae on YouTube

Watch the 2025 PSSC keynote with Hon. Dr. Lloyd Axworthy on YouTube

Sean Carleton, a historian at the University of Manitoba, said the documents provide important evidence to back what Indigenous leaders long argued and suspected.

“These documents help us see the disjuncture between the ways Canada presents itself on the world stage and what it’s doing behind closed doors,” he said.

“There’s a disingenuous nature to the way that Canada presents itself and the work that it does to facilitate ongoing colonization.”

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Kiskinohamatowin report

The Kiskinohamatowin report is based on a conference hosted by University of Manitoba Law Prof. Brenda Gunn and consultant Celeste McKay in 2019.

The 28-page report includes brief case studies from Brazil, New Zealand, the Philippines, Russia, Canada and the U.S. on implementing rights to land, sacred sites, justice, language, self-government and the rights of Indigenous children. It provides recommendations for Indigenous peoples, governments, UN bodies, civil society organizations and academic and human rights institutions.

Indigenous peoples fought for decades to craft a declaration with language powerful enough to make a meaningful difference in their communities. Then they fought to have the declaration adopted by governments around the world. Indigenous peoples are still fighting – including in Canada – for those government commitments to be acted upon. In the meantime, Indigenous peoples and their allies around the globe are forging ahead with creative projects inspired by the declaration.

“The Kiskinohamatowin report can serve as a handbook for groups interested in learning what worked and didn’t work in other parts of the world while designing their own implementation projects,” Gunn says. Nine years ago, she wrote the original handbook on understanding the declaration.

The Kiskinohamatowin report also demystifies the complex United Nations mechanisms for UNDRIP implementation, making it a potential teaching tool.

Dookeran came to Winnipeg in the 1960’s as an international student following in his brother Ivan’s footsteps to study at the University of Manitoba. He quickly adopted his new country and surged forward with a positive attitude and boundless energy embracing his surroundings, immersing himself in student life.

Three individuals stand out for Dookeran, “K.J. Charles taught me my very first course in Economics and gave me an appreciation of the nobility of public service”. Clarence Barber, the Department Head at the time, taught Dookeran that economics is a science, “he focused on the methodical side – the data, the facts – and how that grounds all the decisions we would make”. Peter St. John introduced him to the balancing act between local and global policy. He says, “Through an International Relations course, I learned of global issues and how those issues influence us locally, whether it was here in Canada or considering how it affected my home of Trinidad and Tobago”.

His studies and his growing interest in making a difference, led him and some friends to campaign for the University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) leadership. “We recognized that the community in Manitoba and here on campus was made up of many different nationalities. We needed to grab people’s attention,” said Dookeran. To help themselves be noticed, they produced posters featuring many different languages hoping that students would be attracted by their own language and stop long enough to learn about their campaign. It worked. Dookeran became the first international student voted in as President of UMSU. “UMSU ignited a confidence in me. This, along with the opportunities I had to learn from Duff Roblin, Ed Schreyer and others in Manitoba who treated me with respect and regard really made a difference.”

While many of his friends stayed in Manitoba after graduation, Dookeran felt the need to move on. He obtained a master’s degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science and then began his first job as a researcher in the Prime Minister’s Office of Trinidad and Tobago. He recalled, “My goal was to make Trinidad and Tobago like Canada. But, I soon realized that the solution didn’t lie purely in economics.” Manitoba’s political climate again influenced Dookeran’s career decision. “Manitobans have patience. They build in stages, systematically. Leadership also requires patience and steadiness. I took this premise and decided the best way for me to improve my country’s economic development was to take a personal risk and run for office.”

This decision took Dookeran on a winding path. He has had a varied and storied career in both economics and politics having served in numerous cabinet posts in the Government of The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, including Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Finance, and Deputy Leader. He did this serving under three different parties, one of which he formed himself. During his time in office, Dookeran launched a series of programs designed to jumpstart the economy and steadily improve economic conditions. He never strayed far from his economics roots, taking turns as a lecturer at the University of the West Indies (UWI), a Senior Economist at the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, and Governor of the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago.

How can today’s students relate to Dookeran’s experience? Going back to those three individuals who started Dookeran on his path, “I’ve learned that a vision must be structured by facts and data. A visionary without data will not make change. Hold on to that vision, but don’t stop learning as you work to make it happen.”

Dookeran, awarded an honorary doctorate from UM in 1991 for distinguished public service, shows no signs of slowing down. His newest book will be released later this year and he will be back teaching International Diplomacy at UWI in the fall. He adds with a smile, “I am grateful for my experience and my health in both mind and body. What’s next for me? We shall see where I may best be able to help.”

The Human Rights Committee is a group of independent experts who serve on a volunteer basis and meet three times a year at the UN in Geneva to review countries’ records on civil and political rights as required by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

“I am honoured the Government of Canada nominated me for this important, expert role,” said Kran. “Human rights issues are critical in the world today, and the challenges are perhaps better known than ever before. I am keen to use my experience to constructively contribute to pragmatic recommendations for positive changes in the human rights situation on the ground.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted:  “Canada is back on the UN Human Rights Committee. Congrats Marcia Kran on winning the support of your colleagues from around the world.”

Canada’s first member of the HRC was Walter Tarnopolsky, who served from 1977-1983. Over the last decade, no nominations have been made by the Government of Canada for UN human rights bodies. In March 2016 The Honorable Stephane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada announced the nomination of Ms. Kran at the Human Rights Council in Geneva as part of Canada’s stronger engagement with the UN. (see http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?mthd=index&crtr.page=1&nid=1037249).

Ms. Kran was one of 22 experts nominated by governments for nine open seats on the Committee. The full list of candidates can be found here.

Should you require any further information please feel free to contact Mark Allen (mark.allen@international.gc.ca) or Antonia Wynne-Hughes  (antonia.wynne-hughes@international.gc.ca) at Global Affairs in Ottawa.