December 9, 2004 Ottawa -- The Honourable Aileen Carroll, Minister of International Cooperation, today announced that Canada will provide $5 million over three years to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to continue the promotion and protection of human rights around the world. International Human Rights Day will be celebrated on December 10th. "The promotion of human rights is an important foreign policy priority for Canada," said Minister Carroll. "Canada regards respect for human rights not only as a fundamental value, but also as a crucial element in the development of stable, democratic and prosperous societies at peace with each other." The funding announced today will be provided by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and makes Canada one of the top 10 donors to the OHCHR, which seeks to prevent human rights violations, secure respect for human rights and enhance international cooperation. It also aims to better integrate human rights approaches and standards throughout the work of the United Nations. In September 2004, Canada provided $1 million to help the UN strengthen its efforts to protect and promote the rights of civilians affected by the ongoing conflict in Darfur, in Western Sudan. This contribution allowed the OHCHR to double the number of human rights monitors in Darfur and extend its mission for another three months, increasing its capacity to investigate human rights abuses and bring these abuses to the attention of the relevant authorities. In 1948, the UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights calling for respect for fundamental rights and freedoms of all people. CIDA's human rights programming addresses civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights, and it highlights a number of special target groups: children, women, disabled persons, indigenous peoples, minorities, refugees and workers. "Every year, Human Rights Day reminds us of persisting human rights problems in our communities and in the world, and of the huge effort still needed, on the part of each and everyone of us, to make human rights a reality for all," said Canadian Louise Arbour, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Funding for this initiative was provided for in the March 2004 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework. - 30 - Information: Andrew Graham Director of Communications Office of the Minister of International Cooperation Telephone: (819) 953-6238 Media Relations Office Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Telephone: (819) 953-6534 E-mail: info@acdi-cida.gc.ca Web site: www.cida.gc.ca (electronic version of document)
