November 25, 2014 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today presented Carl Bildt, former prime minister and foreign minister of Sweden, with the John Diefenbaker Defender of Human Rights and Freedom Award, on the occasion of the Global Commission for Internet Governance meeting in Ottawa.
“Canada applauds Carl Bildt’s international leadership on promoting and protecting Internet freedom,” said Baird. “Against a growing trend toward censorship and control on the Internet, Mr. Bildt and Sweden have led the charge as advocates for people having the same rights and freedoms online as they do offline.
“Canada looks forward to continuing our work with Sweden and other global partners to promote a free, open and secure Internet that empowers expression, spurs on innovation and fosters development.”
The Diefenbaker Award was created in 2010 to honour individuals or organizations showing exceptional courage and leadership in defending human rights and freedom. The award was named in recognition of former prime minister John Diefenbaker, who, during his time in office, championed human rights both in Canada and around the world. His determination to secure rights for all led to the passage of the Canadian Bill of Rights in 1960.
For more information and a video, please consult Diefenbaker Awards.
A backgrounder follows.
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Carl Bildt was Sweden’s prime minister from 1991 to 1994 and its minister of foreign affairs from 2006 to 2014. He is currently the chair of the Global Commission on Internet Governance, a Centre for International Governance Innovation and Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) initiative to develop and advance a strategic vision for the future of the Internet.
