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<title>AXWORTHY ANNOUNCES REHABILITATION PROJECTS FORSEXUALLY EXPLOITED YOUTH</title>
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<p>162<font face="Courier"></font></p>
<p><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">June 18, 1998 No. 162</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">AXWORTHY ANNOUNCES REHABILITATION PROJECTS FOR</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">SEXUALLY EXPLOITED YOUTH</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced support for
rehabilitation, training and reintegration projects for sexually exploited youth
in six Latin American countries.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Six individual projects in Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Bolivia,
Peru and Chile will focus on: counselling and rehabilitation; education and
training; and reintegration into the labour force and community. They will
address the particular needs of 15 young women, and will also benefit up to 100
other young people who have been sex-trade workers or who have otherwise been
sexually exploited.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"These projects further support Canada's commitment to the rights of children as
a foreign policy priority," said Mr. Axworthy. "They are also built on the
conviction that involving youth in decisions that affect them fosters responsible
adulthood. Promoting and protecting the rights of children not only demonstrates
respect for children, but encourages them, now, and later, as adults, to respect
the rights of others."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Mr. Axworthy made the announcement today in New York where he was attending a
presentation, at the United Nations, on "Out From the Shadows", an International
Summit of Sexually Exploited Youth held in Victoria, British Columbia, in March
of this year. Several of the youth delegates who participated in the Summit
contributed to the development of these projects. The University of Victoria
School of Child and Youth Care, which co-hosted the March Summit, will act as
supervisor for the six projects announced today, and will administer the funds. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Senator Landon Pearson, Minister Axworthy's special advisor on children's issues,
who was also co-chair of the Victoria Summit, will act as overall project
director. The projects will be implemented through a partnership of six Canadian
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and eight local NGOs in the </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">countries concerned. The projects are to begin immediately and are expected to be
completed by March 1999.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">A contribution of $150 000 is being made through the Canadian Centre for Foreign
Policy Development, which is affiliated with the Department of Foreign Affairs
and International Trade. The contribution is being made under the Centre's
mandate to contribute to the development of Canada's foreign policy, including
children's rights, as well as to contribute to youth education.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 1998 federal budget
and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.</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">Debora Brown</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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