NEWS RELEASES
AXWORTHY ANNOUNCES CANADIAN SUPPORT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVITIES IN RWANDA AND FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
April 3, 1996 No. 58
AXWORTHY ANNOUNCES CANADIAN SUPPORT FOR HUMAN
RIGHTS ACTIVITIES IN RWANDA
AND FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced contributions to the
United Nations High Commission on Human Rights to support projects in Rwanda and
the former Yugoslavia. Mr. Axworthy made his announcement today in Geneva, where
he was addressing the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
"The High Commissioner for Human Rights fulfils a central and critical role in the
human rights machinery of the United Nations. Canada was instrumental in
establishing this position, and we strongly support the efforts of the Office of
the High Commissioner to strengthen the UN Human Rights system. These
contributions will materially enhance the UN's ability to improve the human rights
situations in both Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia," said Mr. Axworthy.
The Minister met with High Commissioner Jose Ayala Lasso earlier today.
Canada is contributing $500 000 to the Centre for Human Rights, which is under the
High Commissioner's jurisdiction, to support the Human Rights Field Operation in
Rwanda. The Operation monitors the Rwandan human rights situation and provides
training in human rights for police and army personnel. At the Tunis Conference
in March, which convened the governments of the central African region, the
Government of Rwanda asked the UN Human Rights Centre to increase the number of
monitors from 100 to 300. This contribution will assist in meeting that goal.
A further contribution of $300 000 is being made to help the High Commissioner
implement his Program of Action for UN participation in human rights protection,
monitoring and training, as called for in the Dayton Peace Accords. The UN will
implement training to ensure that international monitors take a consistent
approach toward human rights matters. The Program of Action will also provide
further support to the Special Rapporteur, which was established by the UN
Commission on Human Rights in 1992 to monitor and provide advice to the UN on the
overall human rights situation in the former Yugoslavia.
Mr. Axworthy will visit Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia next week.
Funding for this initiative was provided for in the March 1996 federal budget, and
is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework. This initiative is an
example of how this government is prioritizing its spending so that it can better
serve Canadians by making efficient use of their tax dollars.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Catherine Lappe
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
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