NEWS RELEASES

January 31, 2000 (10:10 a.m. EST) No. 15

CANADA TO PARTICIPATE IN FIRST

CONFÉRENCE DES FEMMES DE LA FRANCOPHONIE IN LUXEMBOURG

Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification) (Francophonie) Ron J. Duhamel will head the Canadian delegation -- which includes Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women) Hedy Fry -- that will be participating in the first Conférence des femmes de la Francophonie, to be held in Luxembourg on February 4 and 5. The theme of the conference will be "Women, Power and Development."

More than 50 states and governments that are members, associate members and observers of La Francophonie will be represented. The meeting will look at progress made on the status of women's issues in the Francophone world since the UN World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995, and set new strategic objectives for the years ahead.

"On the eve of the Luxembourg conference, I would like to draw attention and pay tribute to the determination of women in La Francophonie member countries who have worked for years to promote equality between men and women, within government institutions as well as in civil society," said Mr. Duhamel. "Countries that are members of La Francophonie represent nearly one quarter of the world's nations, and it is therefore essential that we be able to make our views clearly known on issues that are crucial to the very future of all women and men."

"Throughout the Francophonie, as in Canada, our future depends on empowering women at all levels of society to participate in economic, social and political life," said Dr. Fry. "It depends on women having the opportunity to voice their concerns, offer their perspectives and contribute their full range of talents."

The Luxembourg conference, which was endorsed by the heads of state and government who attended the 8th Francophonie Summit in Moncton, will address many of the same issues as the Beijing conference. One of the main goals of the conference is to make a contribution to the Special Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, set for June 2000 in New York City, entitled "Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the Twenty-First Century." Two representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGO) will join the Canadian delegation to Luxembourg.

En route to Luxembourg, Mr. Duhamel will stop in Belgium where he is expected to meet with the Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister (Francophonie), Louis Michel, and with the ministre-président du Gouvernement de la Communauté française de Belgique, Hervé Hasquin. Mr. Duhamel will also address the representatives of the NGO, Landmine Monitor Researchers.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Amy Butcher

Office of the Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification) (Francophonie)

(613) 944-5482

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

Thoren Hudyma

Office of the Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)

(613) 997-9900

This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca