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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">June 19, 1998 No. 163</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">AXWORTHY TO UNVEIL GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy announced today that he would introduce
<em>For the Record, 1997: The United Nations Human Rights System</em> at the Vienna Plus
Five Global Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Forum on Human Rights taking
place in Ottawa, June 22 to 24, 1998.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"I am delighted that Canada has been able to produce this first annual global
human rights report as one of its principal contributions to mark the 50th
anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," said Mr. Axworthy.
"Anniversaries such as these are important milestones and provide an opportunity
to reflect on accomplishments. However, documents such as this report highlight
the work that remains to be done and the intensified commitment needed to pursue
the international human rights agenda during the next 50 years."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This is the first annual report, based exclusively on UN sources, to provide in a
single document an overview of the international human rights situation as
documented by independent UN experts. The report was produced in collaboration
with the Ottawa-based NGO Human Rights Internet.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Human Rights Internet, along with an international consortium of 33 other NGOs,
is also the principal organizer of The Vienna Plus Five Global NGO Forum. The
Forum will examine progress made in the five years since the Vienna Human Rights
Conference in June 1993. It will also identify and focus on topics that members
of the international NGO community intend to bring to the attention of the UN in
the context of the Vienna Plus Five inter-governmental review next autumn. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"The role of NGOs and other civil society players in promoting and protecting
human rights globally is vital," said </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Mr. Axworthy. "Governments working alone cannot achieve the results that a
partnership representing all sectors of society can. I commend Human Rights
Internet for its contribution to the production of this important report and for
its leadership in organizing this forum."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier"><em></em></font><font face="Courier"><em>For the Record, 1997 </em>will be available in English and French in a six-volume
paperback version, as well as on CD-ROM. It will also be accessible on the World
Wide Web at www.hri.ca/fortherecord1997/, as well as on the Department of Foreign
Affairs and International Trade Web site (see address below).</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The Government of Canada, through the Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade and the Canadian International Development Agency, has
provided financial and technical support for both the production of the report
and the Forum itself.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 1998 federal budget
and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Debora Brown</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
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