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<html> <head> <meta name="Generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 8"> <title>CANADA, CHINA AND NORWAY HOLD JOINT SYMPOSIUM ON HUMAN RIGHTS</title> </head> <body text="#000000" link="#0000ff" vlink="#551a8b" alink="#ff0000" bgcolor="#c0c0c0"> July 28, 1999 (2:10 p.m. EDT) No. 172 CANADA, CHINA AND NORWAY HOLD JOINT SYMPOSIUM ON HUMAN RIGHTS Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) Raymond Chan today announced that Canada, along with China and Norway, co-hosted the Second Plurilateral Symposium on Human Rights in Qingdao, China, on July 26 and 27. "This gathering is a concrete result of Canada's ongoing engagement with China on human rights and good governance issues," said Minister Axworthy. "China's involvement in the Symposium, particularly as co-host, represents progress in mutual efforts to explore and develop initiatives aimed at greater understanding and further implementation of international human rights standards." "Canada is pleased to have initiated the Symposium and to have maintained its regional focus," said Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) Chan. "The involvement of Asia-Pacific countries with varied economic, social, political and cultural backgrounds makes for a rich dialogue on human rights. The involvement of academics, practitioners and policy makers promotes valuable insights for all participants on both the theory and the practice of human rights." This year's Symposium covered four agenda items: implementation of the International Covenant on Political and Civil Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights (discussion led by China); rights of minorities (discussion led by Norway); labour rights (discussion led by China); and freedom of expression (discussion led by Canada). Observer countries invited to this year's Symposium included Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand. Norway was invited to join in co-hosting the Symposium in recognition of the May 1998 Lysøen Agreement between Canada and Norway, under which the two countries formed a partnership for joint action on international human security issues. This Symposium will contribute to the increasing attention being paid to human rights throughout the Asia-Pacific region. - 30 - A backgrounder on Canada's involvement in promoting human rights in China is attached. For further information, media representatives may contact: Debora Brown Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (613) 995-1851 Naseem Nuraney Office of the Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) (613) 995-1852 Media Relations Office Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (613) 995-1874 Backgrounder CANADA AND CHINA: HUMAN RIGHTS, GOOD GOVERNANCE AND THE RULE OF LAW • Canada works with the Chinese government and through international institutions to urge that China respect its obligations under the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 1997, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs announced a package of human rights initiatives between Canada and China. • Canada and China have established a joint committee on human rights to address such issues as political and civil rights, religious freedoms, economic, social and cultural rights and women's and children's rights. The committee met twice in 1997 and in November 1998 in Winnipeg. A fourth meeting is being planned for later this year in Beijing. • Another important element of the package of human rights initiatives is the Plurilateral Human Rights Symposium series. The first conference took place in March 1998 in British Columbia and marked the first time that China co-hosted a human rights event involving several countries. The symposium series provides an opportunity for participating countries, primarily from the Asia-Pacific region, to discuss a range of human rights issues. • As part of the package announced in 1997, Canada is helping to review China's criminal procedure law, an adversarial trial system and a legal aid system. Canada is also helping implement China's obligations under conventions of the United Nations. • Frequent high-level contact with Chinese leaders over the past year has enabled Canada to address its concerns and to share views on issues at the forefront of Chinese reform. These include structural problems in government institutions and the role of government in China. Canada is committed to frank discussions with Chinese authorities on human rights issues and continues to urge China to quickly ratify and implement international covenants on civil and political rights and on economic, social and cultural rights. • Development assistance is an important way of advancing human rights, democracy and good governance. Many projects are under way to encourage China to reform its legal and judicial structures by increasing the transparency of legal processes and to adapt these structures to needs arising from economic reform. Specific projects include support for research on human rights, technical assistance on revising criminal law to better protect the rights of the accused, carrying out laws to protect women's rights, criminal law reform, training for judges and senior prosecutors, support for the development of a national legal aid system, and a program to support governance and civil society. </body> </html>

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