June 2, 2000 (2:00 p.m. EDT) No. 131

SECRETARY OF STATE FRY TO HEAD CANADIAN DELEGATION

TO UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL SESSION BEIJING + 5

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women) Hedy Fry will lead the Canadian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly Special Session - "Beijing +5" - in New York, from June 5 to 9.

The United Nations Special Session is an opportunity to review and assess progress on women's equality achieved since 1995, when participants from Canada and around the world met at the UN's Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China.

"Now, five years later, we will meet to review the progress on priority issues, to see how far we've come and what work still lies ahead in this new millennium," said Dr. Fry.

Canadian objectives for the Special Session include:

• advancing the human rights of women and girls throughout their lives;

• ensuring the diversity of women's experiences are respected and valued; and

• building partnerships with civil society, other governments and international organizations.

"We will look closely at what we have accomplished for women and for society. We hope to share our successes, challenges and lessons learned to ensure the advancement of gender equality and women's human rights," said Minister Axworthy.

Canada's participation at Beijing + 5 highlights the benefits of women working together as a global community, and it underscores Canada's commitment to achieving gender equality.

- 30 -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

Cathy Hallessey

Status of Women Canada

(613) 995-3901

Thoren Hudyma

Office of the Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)

(613) 997-9900

Internet: http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca (electronic version of this document)

This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca.