Government of Harper spent $3 million to NOT repatriate Khadr

It seemed rather timely that, in light of yesterdays failed bid to gain a non permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (a seat that was ours to lose by the way) that I came across this little tid-bit in Wikipedia. In this particular instance, it appears that Canada has defied the pleas of both UNICEF and Amnesty International to repatriate Child-Soldier Omar Khadr and are also knowingly in breach of this boy's rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Why this is, is anybody's guess, but more than likely, the Reform Conservatives would prefer to see Khadr  face a military tribunal in the States and what ever consequences there may be for the alleged killing of a U.S. Special Forces soldier in combat. According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children, operational protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict: 

(Art 4, Optional Protocol.) Likewise, under the Optional Protocol states are required to demobilize children within their jurisdiction who have been recruited or used in hostilities, and to provide assistance for their physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration. (Art 6(3) Optional Protocol.). 

15 year old Khadr as he was found by US Special Forces
Guess they figured he was still a threat so promptly
put two bullets in his back. 

So it appears that both the United States AND Canada are complicit under United Nations protocol in not observing the rights of this boy who was found by American Combat troops covered with rubble from an aerial bombing sortie and shrapnel in his left eye and despite this, felt the need to pump two rounds into his already tattered body. In addition, the Canadian Government has spent over Three million dollars to deliberately deny Khadr his rights under both Canadian and International conventions. 

And we wonder why we didn't get a seat on the Security Council. 

Omar Ahmed Khadr: (born September 19, 1986)

   * Khadr was captured on July 27, 2002 by American forces at the age of 15 following a four-hour firefight with militants in the village of Ayub Kheyl, Afghanistan.  He has spent seven years in the Guantanamo Bay detention camps accused of war crimes and providing support to terrorism after allegedly throwing a grenade that killed a US soldier.

A Canadian citizen born in Toronto, he is the youngest prisoner held in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp by the United States and has been frequently referred to as a child soldier. The only Western citizen remaining in Guantanamo, Khadr is unique in that Canada has refused to seek extradition or repatriation despite the urgings of Amnesty International, UNICEF, the Canadian Bar Association and other prominent organizations In 2009, it was revealed that the Canadian government had spent over $3 million to ensure Khadr remained in Guantanamo..

A 2009 review determined that the Canadian Cabinet had failed Khadr, by refusing to acknowledge his juvenile status or his repeated claims of being abused. In April 2009, the Federal Court of Canada ruled that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms made it obligatory for the government to immediately demand Khadr's return. After a hearing before the Court of Appeals produced the same result, the government announced they would argue their case before the Supreme Court of Canada. In January 2010, the Supreme Court ruled that Khadr's constitutional rights had clearly been violated, but it stopped short of ordering the government to seek his return to Canada.  

Khadr was the only person charged under the 2006 Military Commissions Act who did not boycott the Guantanamo proceedings. Canadian authorities also determined that Khadr had little knowledge of his father's alleged activities, since "he was out playing or simply not interested".

* Courtesy of Wikipedia.org