Twenty-Eight Canadian NGOs to Attend United Nations Racism Conference Preparatory Meeting
OTTAWA, May 17, 2001 -- Twenty-eight Canadian non-governmental organizations, representing Aboriginal peoples and racial and ethnocultural minorities, as well as community, religious, youth and women's groups, will participate in a conference in Geneva, from May 21 to June 1, 2001. This conference is being held in preparation for the upcoming United Nations World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR), which will take place in Durban, South Africa, in late August."The participation of Indigenous peoples, youth and non-governmental organizations from Canada and around the world is critical to the success of the UN World Conference against racism," said Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women) Hedy Fry. "NGOs participated fully in the consultations that we held throughout Canada to develop an action plan in preparation for WCAR and it is important that they now be an integral part of the international preparations taking place in Geneva."
The third UN World Conference Against Racism will take place from August 31 to September 7, 2001, in Durban, South Africa. The WCAR has four objectives: to examine all factors leading to racism and racial discrimination; to review progress made in the fight against racism; to increase awareness of the problem; and to recommend measures to combat all forms of racism.
The Government of Canada's goals at the WCAR are to establish an international agreement on measures to combat racism and discrimination, to share the Canadian experience of diversity and to facilitate discussion of race-related issues.
Canadian NGOs were selected to attend the preparatory meeting and the WCAR Conference on the basis of their expertise in specific areas, such as human rights, racism and social justice issues. Appropriate regional, municipal and sectoral representation was also a consideration. A list of participating NGOs is attached.
For more information, please visit the following Web site: www.multiculturalism.pch.gc.ca
Information:
Pascal Charron
Communications Assistant
Office of the Secretary of State
(Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)
(819) 997-9900
Catherine Drew
WCAR Secretariat
Canadian Heritage
(819) 953-3330
(819) 712-2954 (cellular)
List of Non-Governmental Organizations participating in the WCAR preparatory meeting Geneva, May 21 - June 1, 2001
Tony Belcourt
Métis Nation of Ontario
Métis National Council
Irvine Carvery
Africville Genealogy Society
Michel Coulanges
Association des avocats et notaires noirs du Québec
Chief Margaret Panesse-Mayer
Nippissing First Nation
Assembly of First Nations
David DeCoine
United Native Nations
Clifford Dezell
Steering Committee on Race Relations of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)
Nicole Dion
Association franco-yukonaise
John Fisher
EGALE (Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere)
Saeed Navide Fotouhinia
Youth Against Racism
Gerald Gall
John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights
Art Hagopian
Canadian Ethnocultural Council
Keder Hyppolite
Association des citoyens d'origine ha•tienne au Canada
Wasif Islam
Youth representative
Donna Kisoun
Pauktuutit
Jamie Koebel
National Association of Friendship Centers, Aboriginal Youth Council
Betty-Ann Lavallée
New Brunswick Congress for Aboriginal People
Yaroslaw Wasyl Lozowchuk
Ukranian Canadian Congress
Catherine Meade
National Association of Women and the Law
Dr. Karen Mock
League for Human Rights of B'nai Brith Canada
Asha Noel
Canadian Ethno-Cultural Council
David Onyalo
Canadian Labour Congress
Margaret Parsons
African Canadian Legal Clinic
Cynthia Pay
Chinese Canadian National Council
Térésa Penalfiel
Association multi-ethnique pour l'intégration des personnes handicapées
Donna Scott
Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission
Lucya Spencer
National Organization of Immigrant and Visible Minority Women of Canada
Leslie Spillett
Mothers of Red Nations (MORN)
Ethel Farrales
Filipinos Canadian Youth Alliance
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