Matt DeCourcey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced his participation at the Conference on Human Rights and Corruption in the Americas, to be held at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on March 20, 2018.

“Canada is committed to supporting democracy and human rights throughout the Americas. This conference provides one more forum in which our region can demonstrate a positive model of diversity and inclusion. I look forward to continued collaboration with our neighbours on protecting human rights and ending corruption in the Americas. The future of our hemisphere is bright.”

-Matt DeCourcey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

“Corruption is a root cause of bad governance and leads to conflict and the suppression of human rights.”

- Hon. Lloyd Axworthy, PC, OC, OM, PhD

• Canada has joined with other countries in the hemisphere to form the Lima Group, which was created to address the critical situation in Venezuela and to explore ways to contribute to the restoration of democracy through peaceful and negotiated means.

• The Lima Group was established on August 8, 2017, to coordinate participating countries’ efforts and apply international pressure on Venezuela. Meetings of the group have been regularly attended by Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Saint Lucia.

• Canada’s new Feminist International Assistance Policy plays an important role in how the Government of Canada engages with the region.  Improving access to sexual and reproductive health and rights is a key component of Canada’s approach. In fiscal year 2016 to 2017, Global Affairs Canada contributed $607 million in international development assistance to the Americas.

• Through the Organization of American States, Canada is supporting an Inter-American Commission on Human Rights project to combat violence and discrimination against women and girls. This initiative deals with two major challenges: providing access to justice for women and girls, and avoiding discrimination and violence against women and girls.

• With Canada in the Americas – Human Rights Leader Award winners, Canada seeks to increase empowerment of local advocates for rights of women and girls across Latin America and the Caribbean.

• Recipients of the Canada in the Americas – Human Rights Leader Award include:

  • Juana Carol Francis Bone, Director, Women of Asphalt, Ecuador
  • Danièle Magloire, activist and sociologist, Haiti
  • Susana Chavez, Director General, Centro de Promoción y Defensa de los Derechos Sexuales y Reproductivos [centre for the promotion and defence of sexual and reproductive rights], Peru
  • Alicia Lopez, founder of the women’s rights organization CEDIMUJER, Guatemala

Associated links

• International Human Rights
• Canada and Latin America and the Caribbean
• Permanent Mission of Canada to the Organization of American States
• Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
• Canadian Museum for Human Rights

Adam Austen
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Adam.Austen@international.gc.ca

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