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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">May 9, 2006 <i>(2:15 p.m EDT)</i><br>
No. 49</span></span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">CANADA ELECTED TO UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay today welcomed the UN General Assembly’s
election of Canada as a member of the newly established Human Rights Council.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“I am pleased that the international community has recognized and reaffirmed Canada’s
long-term commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights both at home
and abroad,” said Minister MacKay. “With a seat on the Council, Canada will make a
valuable contribution to its important work in establishing and enforcing human rights
standards.”</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Minister also emphasized Canada’s commitment to working with the other
members of the Council and all UN member states to ensure a strong and effective
council that has the tools to appropriately respond to human rights violations.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Canada has long been a proponent of the need for UN reform and is a strong supporter
of the Human Rights Council. On March 15, 2006, the UN General Assembly adopted a
resolution creating the Human Rights Council to replace the UN Commission on Human
Rights. Notably, the new 47-member council will meet more regularly throughout the
year, enabling it to better respond to urgent situations. It will also establish a universal
periodic review mechanism through which the human rights records of all UN member
states will be considered. The Council also preserves the strengths of the Commission,
including the system of independent rapporteurs and the participation of non-governmental organizations. </span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Council will meet for the first time on June 19, 2006. </span></span></p>
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<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>
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<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/20070221061218/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>
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