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CANADA TO HOST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WAR-AFFECTED CHILDREN IN 2000

November 24, 1999 (4:00 p.m.) No. 253

CANADA TO HOST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WAR-AFFECTED CHILDREN IN 2000

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Minister for International Co-operation Maria Minna today announced that Canada will host an international conference on war-affected children in 2000. The announcement was made in Montreal at the "Children's Rights in the New Millennium" conference. Next year's gathering will be held ten years after entry into force of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

"Three years ago, Graça Machel presented to the UN General Assembly a ground-breaking study on the impact of armed conflict on children," said Minister Axworthy. "In it, she detailed the tragedies faced by war-affected children and recommended that a conference on the subject be held in 2000. I am pleased to announce that Canada will respond to this human security challenge. We will use the gathering to formulate a comprehensive, global plan of action to address the full range of problems and offer potential solutions for children affected by conflict."

"This conference will focus on all children affected by war," said Minister Minna. "This would include, among others, children from East Timor who have lost access to schools and health clinics, ethnic Albanian children traumatized by conflict in Kosovo, or child soldiers in Sierra Leone who have been exploited and forced to commit atrocities against their families or people in their communities."

Ministers Axworthy and Minna noted that UN agencies, governments, non-governmental organizations, civil society and youth from all regions of the world will be invited to attend the conference.

The conference on war-affected children is one of a series dealing with children's issues. In spring 2000, Canada and Ghana will co-host a conference on the protection of war-affected children. Other agenda items will include the impact of small arms on children and their communities and practical and sustainable commitments to rehabilitate and reintegrate children affected by conflict. These events will contribute to Canada's preparations for the 2001 UN General Assembly Special Session on Children, which will review the achievements of the goals of the 1990 World Summit for Children.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Debora Brown

Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

(613) 995-1851

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

Robin Walsh

Office of the Minister for International Co-operation

(819) 953-3160

Media Relations Office