NEWS RELEASES
December 10, 2004 (11:00 a.m. EST)
No. 149
CANADA CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today issued the following statement to mark
International Human Rights Day:
“Over the last half-century, the advancement of human rights has been an important
objective of Canadian foreign policy. Through such initiatives as the United Nations
Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Government of Canada
has actively worked to improve the lives of individuals deprived of their rights. We have
been instrumental in the ongoing development and implementation of the international
human rights framework.
“There continue to be serious challenges to the promotion and protection of human
rights, including new ones stemming from current global tensions. International Human
Rights Day not only reminds us of the progress made in the last 60 years, but it also
forces us to recognize how much remains to be done to ensure that the human rights of
all are respected around the world.
“I commend the tireless efforts of human rights defenders across the globe, since
without them human rights violations would go unreported and progress would be only
too limited. Canadians have played a significant role in the promotion and protection of
human rights throughout the world. Canadian non-governmental organizations are also
involved in a number of countries, often in partnership with local counterparts and
human rights defenders, and they have played a concrete role where progress is
needed the most. On this day, it is also fitting to pay tribute to all of those who have
died defending human rights around the world, including peacekeepers, humanitarian
workers, military personnel, members of civil society, government representatives,
journalists and many others.”
The United Nations has selected “Human Rights Education” as this year’s International
Human Rights Day theme. Today, the United Nations General Assembly will devote a
special plenary session to mark the end of the United Nations Decade for Human
Rights Education and to proclaim a World Programme for Human Rights Education. As
Chair of the Human Security Network, Canada will deliver a statement on the
importance of human rights education as a tool for preventing human rights abuses,
and will express the support of the Network for the continued engagement of the United
Nations on this issue.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Sébastien Théberge
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs Canada and International Trade Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca
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