On June 9, 2025, Vancouver-based immigration and refugee lawyer Katrina Sriranpong joined more than 400 Canadian lawyers, academics, and human rights advocates in signing an open letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney. The letter calls on Canada to take decisive action to confront the unfolding genocide in Gaza. Rarely do members of Canada’s legal profession unite at this scale, but the gravity of the situation compelled them to speak with one voice.
The letter has already drawn national attention, including coverage on the CBC. Canadians deserve to understand why such a broad coalition of lawyers, including Sriranpong, believe inaction in the face of genocide is unacceptable and against international law.
Canada’s Legal Obligations
The letter grounds its demands in binding law, not only moral persuasion.
The Genocide Convention (1948):
Canada is a party to the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Article I obligates states not only to punish but also to prevent genocide wherever it occurs. This duty is proactive. Sriranpong explains that states cannot wait until atrocities are concluded before acting. Sriranpong said, “The fact that the Canadian government has stated that it must wait for a legal decision to be made at the international court is misleading. The Convention is titled the ‘Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.’ As such, the Canadian government has an obligation to act to prevent a genocide.”
As a High Contracting Party, Canada is obligated to respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law. When civilians are targeted, hospitals are attacked, or populations are deprived of necessities, other states have a duty to intervene diplomatically, economically, or legally.
Customary International Law:
Beyond treaties, customary international law prohibits crimes against humanity and the practice of collective punishment. These norms are binding on all states, regardless of ratification status.
The open letter emphasizes that Canada cannot remain a bystander. Under international law, inaction risks being perceived as complicity.
The Role of Lawyers and Academics
Canadian lawyers and academics occupy a unique position in society. Lawyers are not only advocates for clients but also guardians of the broader justice system. When systemic injustices arise, their silence can be construed as tacit approval.
Academics contribute independent credibility. Their expertise situates the atrocities in Gaza within global patterns of accountability and impunity. Together, lawyers and scholars serve as a moral compass for Canadian policy.
This is not the first time Canadian lawyers have spoken out collectively. Similar letters were issued during apartheid in South Africa, and more recently in response to the treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. What makes this moment stand out is the unprecedented scale of support.
Why Silence is Not Neutrality
Some argue that Canada should adopt a cautious or neutral stance in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The open letter rejects that premise. Neutrality in the face of mass atrocities is a form of complicity.
The International Court of Justice has confirmed that states have a duty to prevent genocide once they become aware of a serious risk. By June 2025, few could credibly claim ignorance. Reports from the UN, humanitarian agencies, and journalists had documented civilian massacres, starvation used as a weapon of war, and deliberate destruction of infrastructure necessary for survival. In December 2024, Amnesty International published their research concluding that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
To remain silent is to accept these acts as inevitable. To remain neutral is to allow perpetrators to operate with impunity.
A Direct Call to the Prime Minister
The letter is not abstract. It lays out specific demands directed to Prime Minister Carney:
- To publicly recognize the scale of atrocities in Gaza as amounting to genocide.
- To take a leadership role in international forums, such as the UN General Assembly and the International Criminal Court.
- To suspend arms exports and military cooperation that could contribute to violations of international law.
- To press for humanitarian access and reconstruction support.
These measures are concrete, feasible, and consistent with Canada’s international obligations. What is required is political courage.
Comparative Reflections
Canada has faced similar moments in its past. When South African apartheid persisted, Canadian lawyers were among the first professionals to call for divestment and sanctions. Over time, that advocacy helped shift public opinion and political will.
Today, Gaza represents a similar test. Will Canada align with international law and human rights principles, or will it continue to be constrained by political expediency? The answer will shape Canada’s credibility on the global stage for decades to come.
Obligations are Not Optional
The open letter of June 9, 2025, is more than a petition. It is a reminder that Canada’s obligations are not optional. Under the Genocide Convention and international humanitarian law, Canada is obligated to act. For the legal and academic community, signing the letter was not merely symbolic. It was an affirmation of professional duty to confront injustice wherever it arises.
Among those who added their name, Katrina Sriranpong stands as an example of how Canadian lawyers are stepping beyond the courtroom to uphold the principles of justice internationally. The Prime Minister now faces a choice. He can continue with half measures, offering sympathy without action, or he can position Canada as a leader in the defense of human rights. Silence is complicity. Decisive action is the only path consistent with Canada’s legal obligations and moral values. Sriranpong explains that the Canadian government must listen. For too long, Canada’s foreign policy on Israel–Palestine has been marked by equivocation. The legal community’s intervention signals that this moment requires clarity, not ambiguity.
