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<title>GRAHAM WELCOMES RESOLUTION TO PROTECT AID WORKERS</title>
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<p><font size="+1"></font><font size="+1"><strong>August 27, 2003 <em>(2:15 p.m. EDT)</em> No. 119</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>GRAHAM WELCOMES RESOLUTION TO PROTECT AID WORKERS</strong></font></p>
<p>Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham today welcomed the unanimous adoption of United Nations Security Council
Resolution 1502 on the protection of UN personnel, associated personnel and humanitarian personnel in conflict zones.
This resolution follows the August 19, 2003, attack on the UN headquarters in Iraq that killed 24 people and injured more
than 100.</p>
<p>"The heinous and unprovoked attack of August 19 has focused international attention on the urgent need to do more to
protect UN and associated personnel and their colleagues in humanitarian non-governmental organizations," said Minister
Graham. "The UN Security Council's adoption of this resolution sends a strong signal of the international community's
resolve to prevent such attacks and to bring the perpetrators to justice. Canada calls on governments that have not already
done so, to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the 1994 UN Convention on the Safety of
United Nations and Associated Personnel, and to put in place appropriate domestic legislation to hold the perpetrators of
such acts accountable."</p>
<p>Attacks against aid workers--those working for the UN system, the Red Cross movement and other non-governmental
organizations--have increased dramatically over the last 10 years. In the past decade, more than 200 UN civilian staff
members have lost their lives as a result of malicious acts, while more than 250 have been taken hostage or kidnapped.
Other serious incidents have included rape and sexual assault, armed robbery and harassment. In the vast majority of cases,
offenders have not been prosecuted.</p>
<p>Canada is a strong advocate of enhanced measures to improve the safety and security of aid staff. Canada has provided
political, diplomatic and financial resources toward this end, including through its work to improve relevant safety training
and equipment.<ins> </ins> Canada is also part of an international working group looking at ways to strengthen existing legal
mechanisms for the protection of aid workers.</p>
<p align="CENTER">- 30 -</p>
<p>For further information, media representatives may contact:</p>
<p>Isabelle Savard</p>
<p>Director of Communications</p>
<p>Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</p>
<p>(613) 995-1851</p>
<p>Media Relations Office</p>
<p>Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</p>
<p>(613) 995-1874</p>
<p>http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</p>
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