March 30, 1998 No. 74

AXWORTHY ANNOUNCES NEW INTERNATIONAL

YOUTH INTERNSHIPS IN HUMAN RIGHTS

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced 50 new international youth internships in the field of human rights for 1998-1999. The announcement was made in an address by Minister Axworthy at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR), which is meeting from March 16 to April 24 in Geneva.

"These 50 new internships are one of the ways Canada is marking the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," said Mr. Axworthy. "Through youth initiatives like this, decision makers of the future will be encouraged to continue to move human rights forward in the new millennium."

The organizations sponsoring the internships include: the United Nations Association in Canada, the Canadian Lawyers Association for International Human Rights, the Canadian Resource Bank for Democracy and Human Rights, and Human Rights Internet. Interns will be placed with non-governmental and international organizations dealing with human rights. The candidates must have relevant backgrounds in areas such as law, international relations, international development, area studies, science, sociology, journalism, communications, and international business.

Approximately 665 internships for Canadian youth have been developed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to date, in co-operation with 57 Canadian organizations from the private and non-governmental sectors.

Prospective candidates may obtain more information regarding eligibility criteria by calling 1-800-559-2888 or by visiting the Department's Web site at www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca under "Canadian Youth."

Funding for these projects was provided for in the Youth Employment Strategy announced in February 1997.

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A list of contacts for the participating organizations with a brief summary of the projects is attached.

For further information, media representatives may contact:

Debora Brown

Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

(613) 995-1851

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

This document is also available on the Department's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca

International Youth Internship Projects in Human Rights

1998-1999

United Nations Association in Canada (UNAC) is managing the placement of 20 interns in UN and UN-related agencies in Canada and abroad, some of which are in the area of human rights. Interns are likely to have backgrounds in political science, international relations, sociology, journalism, communications and international business. Please contact:

Jacinthe Morin, Director of Finance and Administration

United Nations Association in Canada

130 Slater, Suite 900

Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6E2

Tel.(613) 232-5751 ext.256

Fax:(613)563-2455

E-mail: unac@magi.com

Canadian Lawyers Association for International Human Rights (CLAIHR) has 12 internships for young Canadians with backgrounds in law to gain international experience with non-governmental organizations addressing human rights issues in the Dominican Republic, South Africa, Namibia, Bolivia, India and French Guyana. Please contact:

Susan Isaac, Co-ordinator

Canadian Lawyers Association for International Human Rights

204-251 Laurier Avenue West

Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5J6

Tel. (613) 233-0398

Fax: (613) 233-0671

E-mail:claihr@web.net

Canadian Resource Bank for Democracy and Human Rights(CANADEM) has 20 internships where interns will be provided with field operations experience in a variety of UN activities encompassing a wide range of activities from human rights to peacebuilding and capacity building. CANADEM assesses and registers individuals for the Canadian Resource Bank for Democracy and Human Rights for international field placements. For more information contact:

Christine Vincent, Co-ordinator

Canadian Resource Bank for Democracy and Human Rights(CANADEM)

1 Nicholas #1102

Ottawa, ON, K1N 7B7

Tel.(613) 789-3328

Fax: (613) 789-6125

E-mail: canadem@ibm.net

Human Rights Internet will place 15 young unemployed/underemployed Canadian youth with human rights organizations around the world (Mongolia, Israel, Nepal, South Africa, Tunisia, The Gambia, and India) and in multilateral organizations. The interns will have backgrounds in international relations, international development, area studies, or law, and do placements in human rights advocacy, documentation, communications and other areas where they are able to make a substantial contribution to the work of the organization. For more information, please contact:

Johanna Myyra, Project Co-ordinator

Human Rights Internet

8 York Street, Suite 202

Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5S6

Tel.(613) 789-7407 ext.2

Fax: (613) 789-7414

E-mail:interns@hri.ca