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<title>SECRETARY OF STATE FRY TO HEAD CANADIAN DELEGATIONTO UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL SESSION BEIJING + 5</title>
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<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1">June 2, 2000 <em>(2:00 p.m. EDT)</em> No. 131</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>SECRETARY OF STATE FRY TO HEAD CANADIAN DELEGATION</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>TO UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL SESSION BEIJING + 5</strong></font><font face="Arial"></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of
Women) Hedy Fry will lead the Canadian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly Special Session -
"Beijing +5" - in New York, from June 5 to 9.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The United Nations Special Session is an opportunity to review and assess progress on women's equality
achieved since 1995, when participants from Canada and around the world met at the UN's Fourth World
Conference on Women in Beijing, China. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"Now, five years later, we will meet to review the progress on priority issues, to see how far we've come and
what work still lies ahead in this new millennium," said Dr. Fry. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Canadian objectives for the Special Session include:</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">• advancing the human rights of women and girls throughout their lives;</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">• ensuring the diversity of women's experiences are respected and valued; and</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">• building partnerships with civil society, other governments and international organizations.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"We will look closely at what we have accomplished for women and for society. We hope to share our
successes, challenges and lessons learned to ensure the advancement of gender equality and women's
human rights," said Minister Axworthy.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Canada's participation at Beijing + 5 highlights the benefits of women working together as a global community,
and it underscores Canada's commitment to achieving gender equality.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial">- 30 -For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Debora Brown</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Cathy Hallessey</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Status of Women Canada</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-3901</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Thoren Hudyma</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Office of the Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 997-9900</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Internet: <a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221021556/http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/">http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca</a> (electronic version of this document) </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's Internet site:
<a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221021556/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a>.</font></p>
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