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<title>MR. GRAHAM - ADDRESS - LAUNCH OF CANADA'S FIRST UNITED NATIONS HUMANITARIAN APPEAL - OTTAWA, ONTARIO</title>
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<p><font size="+1"></font><font size="+1"><strong><u>CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY</u></strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>NOTES FOR AN ADDRESS BY</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>THE HONOURABLE BILL GRAHAM,</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS,</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>ON THE OCCASION OF</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>THE LAUNCH OF CANADA'S FIRST</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>UNITED NATIONS HUMANITARIAN APPEAL</strong></font></p>
<p><font size="+1"><strong>OTTAWA, Ontario</strong></font></p>
<p><font size="+1"><strong>November 19, 2003</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">I am extremely pleased to be co-hosting the first-ever launch in Canada of a United Nations Consolidated
Appeal. It is an honour for us to be hosting this event today. Given Canada's commitment to Africa, it is
particularly suitable that our launch is highlighting West Africa. A region often ignored by the media, West Africa
has long been rocked by overwhelming violence and displacement on a scale hard to imagine here in Canada.
This uncertainty overshadows the enormous potential for peace and prosperity awaiting all Africans if the
underlying causes of instability can be addressed.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Two days ago, I met with a constituent in my office who runs an organization for African refugees in Toronto.
Through him, I became privy to a devastating first-hand account of the tremendous challenge before us today.
We in Canada must not become complacent about the reality of humanitarian need. No matter how distant and
enormous the challenge may seem, the world community can, and does, make a difference. Now is the time to
renew our commitment to seeing the benefits of our efforts multiply.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">In a globalized world, our own security is inextricably linked to the security of those beyond our borders. The
issues we are discussing here today, ranging from conflict to the environment to HIV/AIDS, are by no means
issues for Africa alone. In our search for solutions, we seek to address not just the symptoms of crises when
they emerge, but also the underlying causes of conflict, displacement and destruction.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">For Canada, this commitment is reflected in our efforts to uphold humanitarian principles and to ensure human
rights and refugee laws are respected and implemented around the world. It is reflected in our efforts to bring
those who have committed heinous crimes to justice. And it is reflected in our efforts to help create stable
societies through political engagement, peace-support operations and reconstruction.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">We put our emphasis on actions that will make a tangible difference for vulnerable populations. Working with
the UN, the Red Cross Movement and non-governmental organizations, we have led efforts to ban anti-personnel mines and address trafficking in small arms; to improve security in refugee camps; to protect
internally displaced persons; and to reduce the humanitarian impact of sanctions. Yet, clearly, our past efforts
are not enough. Millions still await the day when they will feel safe, secure and able to move on from the daily
struggle for survival to the lifetime pursuit of social, economic and cultural fulfilment.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Humanitarian action has never been more complex and, perhaps, never less well understood. We have entered
a new era, where old rules and assumptions no longer apply. This point was brutally driven home to us by the
recent bombing of the Red Cross Headquarters in Baghdad. The Red Cross, a famous symbol of neutrality,
has now become a deliberate target of combat. Humanitarian workers, seeking on our behalf to protect and
assist civilians directly affected by war, have been purposely victimized. Three Canadians--Chris Klein-Beekman, Vatche Arslanian and Gillian Clark--were among those killed in the line of duty this past year. The
Government of Canada extends its deepest gratitude to their families.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">These despicable attacks will never be legitimate. Aimed at breaking the resolve of the international community,
they will not succeed in lessening our commitment to protecting and helping civilian populations in need. They
do, however, demand that we think in new ways about how to move forward in helping people face such
dangers. I look forward to working with the international community at the International Conference of the Red
Cross next month to address this critical issue.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Securing humanitarian access continues to be a major challenge for the international community today. Too
many state and non-state actors continue to resist international efforts to meet the needs of devastated
populations. The international community must step up its efforts to demand unhindered access to those in
need. There is no justification for denying aid to those who are most vulnerable.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Despite these challenges, we must also recognize that, in recent years, important strides have been made in
improving the legal and physical protection of people who have been devastated by crises. For instance, civilian
protection issues are increasingly becoming a key focus of states struggling to deal with the plethora of issues
that arise during a crisis. The UN Security Council is including measures to protect civilians in new sanctions
regimes and peacekeeping mandates. The G8 Africa Action Plan includes specific activities to implement
agendas bearing on children and armed conflict, women, peace and security. While much work remains to be
done, improving the legal framework for civilian protection is an important step for vulnerable people around the
world.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">On another front, UN agencies and NGO partners are tackling difficult issues through the development of better
approaches for giving protection and material aid. These efforts include new measures to prevent sexual abuse
and exploitation and guidelines to address HIV/AIDS in emergency environments.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Impressive progress has been made in a number of other areas as well. Since the Ottawa Convention was
opened for signature in 1997, 141 states--more than 70 percent of the world's countries--have formally agreed
to renounce the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of anti-personnel mines. Sixty-three state parties have
destroyed 30 million mines. Discussions on how to prevent genocide have moved forward through <em>The
Responsibility to Protect</em>, a report by the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty.
Through the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Canada has proudly contributed to political,
policy and programming support for all of these developments.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">All of us here know that humanitarian action is not a North-South issue; it is a shared commitment to our
common humanity. The launch of the Consolidated Appeal gives us a chance to reflect on issues that gain
international attention all too rarely. Today, we can highlight the struggles and voices of those most directly
impacted by conflicts and natural disasters around the world.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">West Africa, the focus of our launch, is a region with enormous potential. An important model for progress can
be seen in Mali, the current chair of the Human Security Network. It has long sought to reduce the illicit trade in
small arms and to improve the protection of war-affected children. I am pleased to note that Canada has been
supporting Mali's efforts in the region.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">In addition to humanitarian aid, we have focused on the protection of human rights (including the rights of
children) and capacity building for police and military institutions. We are supporters of the Sierra Leone Truth
and Reconciliation Commission and the Special Court. And as part of our contribution to the G8 Africa Action
Plan, $15 million was set aside for the Canada/West Africa Peace and Security Initiative. This initiative
emphasizes peace support operations capacity, the reduction of small arms and light weapons and community
policing. It also gives support to the Economic Community of West African States to better prevent and manage
civil conflicts that often become humanitarian crises.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Let me close by reminding you of the UN Millennium Declaration. In that document, world leaders declared their
commitment to ensuring that civilian populations victimized by natural disasters, armed conflicts and other
humanitarian emergencies are given every resource necessary to resume normal lives as soon as possible.
Canada understands that humanitarian action is not only a responsibility, but also an investment in our own
future and the future of the whole world. I assure you that we, in Canada, will continue making good on our own
commitment to help those in need.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Thank you.</font></p>
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