<html>
<head>
<meta name="Generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 8">
<title>AXWORTHY WELCOMES BRAZILIAN RATIFICATION OF CANADA-BRAZIL TRANSFER OF OFFENDERS TREATY</title>
</head>
<body text="#000000" link="#0000ff" vlink="#551a8b" alink="#ff0000" bgcolor="#c0c0c0">
<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">April 15, 1998 No. 91</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2"> AXWORTHY WELCOMES BRAZILIAN RATIFICATION OF </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">CANADA-BRAZIL TRANSFER OF OFFENDERS TREATY</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today welcomed confirmation that
President Fernando Henrique Cardoso of Brazil has ratified the Transfer of
Offenders Treaty signed between Canada and Brazil on July 15, 1992. The two
countries will exchange the instruments of ratification before the end of this
week. The Treaty comes into force 30 days thereafter.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"The objective of the Canada-Brazil Transfer of Offenders Treaty is to work
together to advance the rehabilitation of Canadian and Brazilian offenders by
allowing them better contact with family and friends, and to facilitate their
eventual reintegration into society at home," said Mr. Axworthy.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Transfer of Offenders Treaties allow prisoners to serve their sentences closer to
their families in their own countries. Canada has such treaties with 10
countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Egypt (which is awaiting ratification), France,
Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Thailand, the United States and Venezuela.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Canadians incarcerated in Brazilian prisons could avail themselves of the
transfer benefits under the treaty by submitting an application to Brazilian
authorities. Applications would be considered on a case-by-case basis by Brazil.
Brazil would then formally forward the application to the Canadian authorities
who would then consider whether they are prepared to receive the prisoner into
the Canadian system. Both Canada and Brazil must agree to a transfer before the
transfer can take place.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Once an offender is in Canada, Canada cannot change the length of the original
sentence. However, Canadian law would apply to the terms of serving the sentence,
for example, Canadian parole </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">provisions. Under Canada's <em>Corrections and Conditional Release Act, 1992</em>, a
prisoner could be eligible for a parole hearing after serving the lesser of one
third of the sentence or seven years.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">There are approximately 1500 Canadians incarcerated around the world, seven of
whom are in Brazil.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><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>
</body>
</html>
