NEWS RELEASES
APPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT
February 18, 2000 (10:30 a.m. EST) No. 28
APPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE
FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND
DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced the appointment of Suzanne Laporte and
reappointment of David Matas to the Board of Directors of the International Centre for Human Rights and
Democratic Development (ICHRDD).
The ICHRDD is an independent body established by an Act of Parliament in 1988. It provides individuals and
organizations in other countries with training, consultation 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 countries other than Canada. The Centre's President is Warren
Allmand.
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Biographical notes on the appointees are attached.
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
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
Suzanne Laporte is the Assistant Deputy Minister of Human Resources at the Department of Foreign Affairs
and International Trade. Ms. Laporte previously served as Canadian Ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire with
accreditation to Benin and Niger and as Director General of the Global and Human Issues Bureau at the
Department of Foreign Affairs. Ms. Laporte also gained experience in numerous aspects of international
development and co-operation during her career at the Canadian International Development Agency where she
held positions as Director General of Strategic Management for the Americas Branch, Director General of the
Middle East and Maghreb Branch, and Counsellor for the Canadian Delegation to the Organization for
Economic Co-operation and Development. She received a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education from
the University of Ottawa.
David Matas was first appointed to the Board of the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic
Development in 1996. He is a human rights lawyer specializing in immigration and refugee law; has written and
litigated extensively on human rights issues; and has appeared in a series of landmark cases before the
Supreme Court of Canada in his capacity as Counsel for Amnesty International and the League for Human
Rights of B'nai B'rith. He has also been a member of a number of trial observer missions for the International
Commission of Jurists, is Co-Chair of the Canadian Helsinki Watch Group and Counsel to Interamicus. In 1996,
he received an Honorary Doctorate of Law from Concordia University in Montreal.
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