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<title>AXWORTHY WELCOMES PROGRESS ON DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN SECURITY AT OAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY</title>
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<p><font size="+1"></font><font size="+1"><strong>June 6, 2000 <em>(5:25 p.m. EDT)</em> No. 141 </strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>AXWORTHY WELCOMES PROGRESS ON DEMOCRACY AND </strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>HUMAN SECURITY AT OAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY</strong></font></p>
<p>Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today highlighted the progress made by Canada in
strengthening democracy and advancing human security at the 30th Organization of American
States (OAS) General Assembly, held from June 4 to 6. Windsor hosted this year's conference,
which marked the 10th anniversary of Canada's full membership in the Organization.</p>
<p>"We have made significant strides on issues ranging from democracy in Peru to war-affected
children, small arms and human rights," said Minister Axworthy. "The issues that were central to
our discussions at the General Assembly -- those of democracy, human rights and development
-- are those that impact the lives of people in the Americas."</p>
<p>During the three days, foreign ministers and their delegations from 34 OAS member states
considered 70 resolutions, and discussed democracy and human security in the hemisphere, as
well as themes relating to the upcoming Americas Summit to be held in Quebec City from April
20 to 22, 2001.</p>
<p>At the General Assembly, ministers deliberated on what action to take to strengthen democracy
following the recent elections in Peru. A resolution introduced by Canada was adopted,
mandating a Mission to Peru comprising the Chair of the General Assembly, Mr. Axworthy, and
the Secretary-General of the OAS, César Gaviria. </p>
<p>The Mission will explore, with the Government of Peru and other sectors of the political
community, options and recommendations aimed at strengthening democracy in that country. In
particular, it will look at measures to reform the electoral process, including reform of the judicial
and constitutional tribunals, as well as strengthening freedom of the press.</p>
<p>"I am pleased that this resolution resonated so strongly with foreign ministers in our discussions.
It reflects the true value and commitment of OAS members to democracy in the hemisphere,"
said Mr. Axworthy.</p>
<p>Mr. Axworthy led a Ministerial Dialogue Session that focussed on human security issues,
including democracy, human rights, war-affected children, corporate social responsibility, and
threats to people from the illicit trade in drugs and other criminal activity. Several resolutions on
human security themes, including war-affected children and child soldiers, and small arms and
light weapons, were adopted.</p>
<p>Canada succeeded in placing the issue of corporate social responsibility on the OAS agenda for
the first time. A resolution was passed to examine the issues in the inter-American context and to
promote the exchange of experiences among member states, international and civil society
organizations and the private sector.</p>
<p>Canada welcomed the largest civil society contingent ever to participate in an OAS General
Assembly: 13 Canadian and 40 Latin American non-governmental organizations. In addition,
three youth representatives presented Mr. Axworthy with the Declaration of Young Inter-American Leaders drafted by participants at the Model OAS General Assembly, which took place
in Edmonton from March 27 to 31.</p>
<p>The OAS is the premier political forum for multilateral dialogue and decision making in the
Americas. The annual General Assembly provides the forum for high-level debates and decisions
on major hemispheric issues affecting the well-being of the people of the Americas. It also
establishes the priorities of the OAS for the coming year. Costa Rica will host the General
Assembly in June 2001.</p>
<p align="CENTER">- 30 -</p>
<p>A backgrounder is attached.</p>
<p>For further information, media representatives may contact:</p>
<p>Debora Brown</p>
<p>Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</p>
<p>(613) 995-1851</p>
<p>Media Relations Office</p>
<p>Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</p>
<p>(613) 995-1874</p>
<p><font size="+1"><strong>Backgrounder</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong></strong></font><font size="+1"><strong>PRIORITY RESOLUTIONS FOR CANADA</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>30TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE </strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES</strong></font></p>
<p>The following resolutions have been adopted at the 30th Organization of American States (OAS)
General Assembly:</p>
<p><strong>Peru</strong></p>
<p>The resolution, introduced by Canada, mandates a Mission to Peru to explore, with the Peruvian
government and other sectors of the political community, options and recommendations aimed at
strengthening democracy in that country. In particular, it will look at measures to reform the
electoral process, including reform of the judicial and constitutional tribunals, as well as
strengthening freedom of the press.</p>
<p><strong>Children and Armed Conflicts</strong></p>
<p>The resolution calls on all parties in armed conflicts, with due urgency, to respect the provisions
of international humanitarian law that protect children. It urges member states to sign and ratify
the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, on the subject
of participation of children in armed conflicts.</p>
<p><strong>Corruption and Corporate Social Responsibility</strong></p>
<p>The resolution instructs the OAS to consider specific measures for member states to implement
the Inter-American Convention on Corruption, and to provide a recommendation on follow-up
mechanisms for consideration by parties to the Convention. The same resolution also puts
corporate social responsibility on the OAS agenda for the first time, to examine the issues in the
inter-American context and to promote the exchange of experiences among member states,
international and civil society organizations, and the private sector. </p>
<p><strong>Civil Society</strong></p>
<p>The resolution recognizes the growing importance of the role of civil society organizations and
their significant contribution to the activities of the OAS. It endorses the Guidelines for the
Participation of Civil Society Organizations in OAS Activities, and instructs the OAS General
Secretariat to continue implementing and disseminating the Guidelines.</p>
<p><strong>Small Arms and Light Weapons</strong></p>
<p>The resolution requests that the OAS study the feasibility of developing a declaration on all
aspects of the excessive and destabilizing accumulation and transfers of small arms and light
weapons.</p>
<p><strong>UN Transnational Organized Crime Convention</strong></p>
<p>The resolution urges OAS member states to support and participate actively in ongoing
negotiations to conclude, in 2000, the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organized
Crime and its three Protocols.</p>
<p><strong>Peace Fund</strong></p>
<p>The resolution proposes to establish a Peace Fund to assist countries in the Western hemisphere
in finding collective, negotiated solutions to territorial or related disputes. </p>
<p><strong>Democracy Fund</strong></p>
<p>The resolution proposes to establish a Democracy Fund to facilitate OAS assistance to member
states when the democratic process is at risk, helping to head off potential crises.</p>
<p><strong>Anti-Personnel Mines</strong></p>
<p>One resolution calls on member states, donors and co-operation agencies to redouble efforts, in
the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch, to complete the mine-clearing programs
in Central America as soon as possible. A second resolution instructs the OAS to continue efforts
to provide assistance in combating anti-personnel mines in the Republics of Ecuador and Peru. </p>
<p><strong>Indigenous Issues</strong></p>
<p>One resolution urges the member states of the Inter-American Indian Institute to participate in its
reform process. A second resolution recognizes progress on the Proposed American Declaration
on the Rights of Indigenous Populations.</p>
<p><strong>Women's Rights and Gender Equality</strong></p>
<p>Three resolutions promote women's human rights and gender equality by: urging member states
to continue promoting measures to eliminate violence against women, including ratifying the
Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence Against
Women; integrating a gender perspective into the Summits of the Americas process; and
resolving to adopt the Inter-American Program on the Promotion of Women's Human Rights and
Gender Equity and Equality.</p>
<p><strong>Parliamentary Network of the Americas</strong></p>
<p>The resolution notes the decision of legislators to hold a meeting of the "Interparliamentary
Forum of the Americas" in Canada in 2001, and requests that the OAS provide technical advice
in the preparatory work for the meeting.</p>
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