NEWS RELEASES
APPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ANDDEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT
December 23, 1996 No. 257
APPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND
DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced the appointments of three
new members to the Board of Directors of the International Centre for Human Rights
and Democratic Development.
Irwin Cotler is a Professor of Law at McGill University. He has practised law
specializing in international human rights law, notably on behalf of political
prisoners and as Canadian Counsel to Nelson Mandela. A peace activist, he was
involved in the struggle against apartheid and in the Middle East Peace Process.
In 1992, he was invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada.
David Matas is a lawyer who has worked in the area of human rights, and the rights
of refugees and immigrants. He is a Vice-President of the League for Human Rights
of B'nai Brith Canada. In 1996, he received an honorary Doctorate of Law from
Concordia University in Montreal.
The Very Reverend Dr. Lois Wilson is Chancellor, Lakehead University in Thunder
Bay and a member of numerous boards and committees including CODE, Canadian
Organization for Development through Education. Dr. Wilson has dedicated much of
her career to working with various organizations promoting human rights, and she
has written many books. She was the first female moderator of the United Church
of Canada and also the first Canadian president of the World Council of Churches.
In 1984, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada and awarded the
Pearson Peace Medal from the United Nations Association of Canada.
Minister Axworthy also reappointed Huguette Labelle to the Board of Directors.
She has been President of the Canadian International Development Agency since June
1993. She has held a number of positions in the federal government including
Deputy Minister of Transport Canada and chairperson of the Public Service
Commission of Canada. Before joining the federal government, she served as a
consultant to the governments of Haiti and Cuba on health-care planning and health
science education. In 1990, she was invested as an Officer of the Order of
Canada.
The International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development is an
independent body established by an Act of Parliament in 1988. It provides persons
and organizations in other countries with training, advice and research services
to promote the observance of human rights and the full participation of all
citizens in the democratic process. The Centre's Board of Directors is made up of
13 members including three from developing countries.
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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
This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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