September 21, 1998 No. 217

AXWORTHY LAUNCHES LANDMINE

OUTREACH PROGRAM

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today launched a public outreach campaign to engage the Canadian public, particularly youth, in a partnership with the government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to meet the continuing challenges posed by anti-personnel (AP) mines.

As part of the campaign, the Minister announced the creation of the Canadian Landmine Action Fund, which was conceived and developed jointly by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and by Mines Action Canada, an NGO.

"From the beginning, the humanitarian tragedy caused by AP mines has resonated with Canadians. They were among the first to bring this issue to the attention of governments and, as a result, we have formed a solid partnership around our joint commitment to seeing AP mines eliminated," said Mr. Axworthy. "This fund builds on that partnership by offering all Canadians an opportunity to contribute directly to landmine clearance and victim assistance activities in communities around the world."

The Minister made his comments at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School in Orleans, east of Ottawa, where he met with students and staff to tell them about the fund and to introduce them to other elements of the outreach campaign.

One of the innovative approaches of this campaign is the creation of a team of youth mine action ambassadors. Five young people representing each region of the country, plus a national co-ordinator, have been chosen and rigorously trained to travel throughout their region meeting with service groups, the business community, other students and teachers, as well as youth groups, and other interested organizations to heighten awareness of the AP mine issue. The youth ambassadors' work is being partially supported by the Canadian Institute for International Affairs through Canada's Youth International Internship Program -- part of the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy. Ambassadors will each work in partnership with a host organization, already involved in the AP mine issue, in their region.

The youth ambassadors were on hand at the launch today and met with the Sir Wilfrid Laurier students to demonstrate and field-test some of the electronic information tools developed as part of the outreach program. A CD-ROM highlights 26 milestones that led to the adoption of the historic convention banning AP mines at an international conference in Ottawa last December. The story is told through dozens of images, text, maps and video clips.

Working in small groups, the students also had a chance to research the AP mine issue using the newly re-launched Safe-Lane Web site. The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade first introduced Safe-Lane last November in the lead-up to the December conference, and has now revamped the layout and content to highlight the tremendous progress that has been made since then.

The youth ambassadors will be able to use these tools, as well as two videos -- a 24-minute version and a shorter 7-minute adaptation -- based on interviews with delegates to last December's conference, including first-hand accounts of mine victims and mine-action professionals working in the field.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School is recognized for its expertise and extensive use of technology in the classroom as a learning strategy. The school also has a strong student and faculty commitment to the AP mine issue, and will continue to be involved well beyond today's launch, particularly in bringing the AP message to other schools.

Mr. Axworthy was joined at today's event by the Secretary-General of the Canadian Red Cross, Pierre Duplessis, and a member of the Steering Committee of Mines Action Canada, Debbie Grisdale, along with representatives of the Ottawa-Carleton English Public School Board and other invited guests.

Close to 10 000 copies of the CD-ROM are being distributed to public libraries, public and private schools, and universities and community colleges across Canada. The Safe-Lane Web site can be found on the Internet at <www.mines.gc.ca>.

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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