Ethel Kennedy at the Canadian Embassy in Brazil

The Canadian Ambassador received on 15 May a delegation from the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial to discuss the situation of Human Rights in Brazil, as well as Land Reform and possibilities of cooperation with Canada.

As part of an extensive programme which took them to several Brazilian cities, an important delegation of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial requested a meeting with the Canadian Ambassador to discuss the situation of Human Rights in Brazil. Mrs. Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Robert F. Kennedy, was accompanied by the Honourable Christine Stewart, former Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa) and ex-minister of the Environment, as well as Bruce Babbit, former Secretary of the Interior under President Clinton, as well as other dignitaries associated with the Memorial. The delegation introduced Mr. Darci Frigo, Coordinator of the NGO Terra de Direitos (A Land of Rights), a Brazilian activist very involved in the defence of the landless peasants, and recipient of the Robert F. Kennedy 2001 Human Rights Award.

Mrs. Kennedy, who reminded everyone that she had met her husband in Canada, praised the work of Brazilian Non Governmental Organisations in their fight against injustice and impunity. She shared her optimism in witnessing President da Silva's commitment to introducing reforms essential to a better distribution of wealth in the country.

Our CIDA colleague, Counsellor Louis Verret, was able to introduce the various cooperation programmes available to organisations such as Terra de Direitos. The delegation was pleased with the opportunity to meet interested and involved Canadian partners with whom potential avenues of cooperation in the area of Human Rights can eventually be discussed.

In the photograph, Ambassador Jean-Pierre Juneau appears with Mrs Kennedy and the Honourable Christine Stewart.