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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">October 19, 2005 <i>(4:45 p.m. EDT)</i><br>
No. 189</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">CANADA INCREASES SUPPORT FOR UN HUMAN RIGHTS</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew and International Cooperation Minister Aileen
Carroll today announced that Canada, through the Canadian International Development
Agency (CIDA), will provide an additional $3 million in ongoing support to the Office of
the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Sixty years after the founding of the United Nations, the struggle for human rights
remains a major issue,” said Minister Pettigrew. “Canada is a staunch supporter of the
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and this increase in our funding will
enable the OHCHR to implement its plan of action, demonstrating leadership that will
encourage other donors to meet commitments made at the 2005 World Summit.”</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">In December 2004, CIDA provided $5 million over three years in core funding to the
OHCHR, and in 2005, it increased support to OHCHR country field offices to strengthen
their human rights protection roles. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Canada has a long-standing commitment to promoting and protecting human rights
through development,” said Minister Carroll. “This announcement effectively doubles
Canada’s 2005 voluntary support to the OHCHR in 2006.” </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">In June 2005, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour
released an ambitious plan of action to revitalize the OHCHR, which proposes
expanding the work program and doubling the overall budget over the next five years. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Canada is also committed to ensuring that the OHCHR is provided with more funding
from the UN’s regular budget, so that it can pursue its activities in numerous key areas
for human rights.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span> </span></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">- 30 -</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Sébastien Théberge<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs<br>
(613) 995-1851</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220184503/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Andrew Graham<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of International Cooperation<br>
(819) 953-6238</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Media Relations Office<br>
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)<br>
(819) 953-6534<br>
</span></span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220184503/mailto:info@acdi-cida.gc.ca"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">info@acdi-cida.gc.ca</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></span></p>
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