This week, CANADEM officially launched Mission Canada, with 50 Canadian long-term observers beginning their work on the ground in Ukraine. The Canadians will observe all aspects of the electoral process leading up to, during, and following the presidential elections in Ukraine, including monitoring the participation of women, internally displaced persons and minorities in the process. More Canadian short-term observers are planned to join them in the weeks to come.
Arming children and turning them into soldiers is one of the most egregious crimes committed in conflict. Children should not be forced to commit acts of violence, become victims of sexual violence or be used as instruments of war.
The Governments of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, members of the Lima Group, express the following:
In response to the on-going humanitarian, economic and political crisis in Venezuela, we reaffirm Venezuela’s right to peace, democracy and humanitarian assistance and express the following:
The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development, today issued the following statement: “I have lost count of the number of times someone in the developing world has inspired me profoundly. The number of times I have met women, men and young leaders who dare to defy convention, stand up for human rights and speak out against inequality in their society.