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<title>AXWORTHY AND MARLEAU ATTEND CANADA-CUBA SEMINAR ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">June 17, 1997 No. 105</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">AXWORTHY AND MARLEAU ATTEND CANADA-CUBA SEMINAR ON
WOMEN'S RIGHTS</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Minister for International Co-operation and Minister Responsible for la Francophonie Diane Marleau are
participating in the Canada-Cuba seminar on Women's Rights taking place in Ottawa
June 16 and 17.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Creating a forum for an open exchange of ideas and experiences between our two
countries is an important way that Canada and Cuba can contribute to the
development of women's rights, and indeed broader issues of human rights. We are
pleased that, through this seminar and other similar activities, Cuba has agreed
to work with Canada in an open and constructive fashion as outlined in the
Declaration signed in January," said Mr. Axworthy.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Meetings such as this are an important way to reinforce and support the work we
are doing through our official development assistance programs internationally,"
said Ms. Marleau. "Human rights, as well as gender equity, democracy and good
governance are among the priorities of the Canadian International Development
Agency," added the Minister.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Agenda items for the delegates include the advancement of women, women's health,
national application of the provisions of the UN Convention on the Elimination of
Discrimination Against Women, and women's rights and sustainable development.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This two-day seminar follows an earlier Canada-Cuba seminar on children's rights,
which was held in Havana in May. Both meetings are a direct result of commitments
made in the Joint Declaration signed by Canada and Cuba during Mr. Axworthy's
visit to Cuba in January 1997.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The Joint Declaration provides for 14 specific areas of co-operation including the
administration of justice, parliamentary exchanges, academic and professional
exchanges, and co-operation on economic, banking and investment matters, among
others.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Canada's delegation to the Ottawa meeting is being led by Jean Augustine, Member
of Parliament for Etobicoke-Lakeshore. Together with observers and official
delegates, over 20 Canadian NGOs and academics concerned with women's rights are
represented along with officials of concerned federal government departments. The
Cuban delegation includes participation from the Federation of Cuban Women, the
Cuban Foreign Ministry and other concerned departments.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">-30-</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Catherine Lappe</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Director of Communications</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
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