NEWS RELEASES
GRAHAM STATEMENT MARKING INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
December 10, 2003 (11:15 a.m. EST) No. 190
GRAHAM STATEMENT MARKING
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham today issued the following statement marking International Human Rights Day:
"The advancement of human rights is a guiding principle in Canada's foreign policy. We believe that the standards of
human rights laid down in the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights should be applied
uniformly around the world, and we have worked for the past 55 years to promote this goal through all available means.
"Canada has been instrumental in the ongoing development of a human rights framework, from the key role played by
diplomat John Humphrey in designing the Universal Declaration in 1948, to the creation of the position of UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights in 1993, to the establishment of the International Criminal Court in 2002 and the election
of former Ambassador Philippe Kirsch of Canada as its first President. Through our bilateral relations, Canada has
supported human rights programs in numerous countries and established constructive human rights dialogues with
countries such as Indonesia and China.
"International Human Rights Day is a reminder of all the work that remains to be done to ensure that the human rights and
fundamental freedoms of all people are respected.
"On this day, it is fitting to pay tribute to all those who died defending human rights around the world, including
peacekeepers, humanitarian workers, military personnel, members of civil society, government representatives, journalists
and many others."
International Human Rights Day commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the UN
General Assembly on December 10, 1948. In simple language, this landmark document describes the rights shared by all
human beings and sets what it calls "a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations." It has since given
rise to six major conventions forming the core of international human rights law, with Canada a party to them all. The
Declaration has also been elaborated to encompass specific standards for women, children, disabled persons, minorities and
other vulnerable groups.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Isabelle Savard
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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