November 8, 2002 (3:00 p.m. EST) No. 143

GRAHAM TO LAUNCH HUMAN SECURITY WEB SITE FOR YOUTH

Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham today announced that he will visit Don Mills Collegiate Institute in Toronto on November 12 and the University of Quebec at Montreal on November 14 to launch "Youth Zone," a new Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) Web site designed to engage youth on human security issues.

Youth Zone is principally a research and teaching tool aimed at high school and university students. It features information on Canada's Human Security Program as well as stories and photographs of young people who have participated in human security initiatives, including peacebuilding.

"It is important that youth from Canada and abroad understand the factors threatening the rights, safety and lives of people around the world and that they be engaged in national and international efforts aimed at eliminating these threats," said Mr. Graham. "Canadian foreign policy has benefited from insights provided by Canadian youth mine action ambassadors, DFAIT interns who are engaged in a wide range of human security projects abroad, and young people who participated in the September 2000 Conference on War-Affected Children. I look forward to the ideas and activism that will be generated by this site."

In Toronto, the Minister will simultaneously launch "No War Zone," (http://www.nowarzone.org) an on-line communications platform created by War Child Canada that allows youth in Canada to connect with their peers in war-affected communities around the world.

The Youth Zone Web site can be accessed at http://www.humansecurity.gc.ca/youth

Funding for both initiatives was provided for in the December 2001 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.

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The schedule of Mr. Graham's media events is attached.

For further information, media representatives may contact:

Isabelle Savard

Director of Communications

Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

(613) 995-1851

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca

SCHEDULE OF MR. GRAHAM'S MEDIA EVENTS

Toronto

Event: Launch of Youth Zone Web site and No War Zone

Date: Tuesday, November 12

Time: 10:00 a.m.

Location: Don Mills Collegiate Institute

Cyber Arts Room

15 The Donway East

Montreal

Event: Launch of Youth Zone

Date: Thursday, November 14

Time: 2:00 p.m.

Location: University of Quebec at Montreal

Room D-R 2000

Athanase-David Pavilion

1430 Saint-Denis Street