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EQUALITY GROUPS WELCOME CONFIRMATION OF LOUISE ARBOUR AS UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

Ottawa – March 2, 2004 – Equality rights organizations in Canada welcomed last week’s decision by the United Nations General Assembly to approve the appointment of Supreme Court of Canada Justice Louise Arbour as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

“Justice Arbour has an excellent human rights record, and we believe she will be a tremendous voice for equality and human rights internationally,” said John Fisher of ARC International, an organization that supports the development of international networks to advance lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered human rights issues.

“In her time as a judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, Justice Arbour has consistently affirmed the right of lesbians, gays and bisexuals to equal treatment, in cases dealing with the discriminatory application of customs laws to lesbian and gay materials, a School Board’s refusal to approve for classroom use three books depicting same-sex families and the need for teachers trained at an Evangelical University to maintain a classroom free from discrimination,” added Laurie Arron, Director of Advocacy for Egale Canada, a national group working for equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-identified people and their families.

“This appointment comes at a critical time, as lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered people around the world are increasingly looking to international mechanisms for recognition of their basic human rights,” added Suki Beavers of Action Canada for Population and Development, a sexual and reproductive rights organization.

In two weeks, the UN Commission on Human Rights will begin its 60^th session in Geneva, at which it will debate a historic resolution on sexual orientation and human rights, being sponsored by Brazil. The resolution, supported and co-sponsored by Canada and more than 25 other countries, was introduced last year, but opposition to the resolution resulted in a postponement of the debate until this year. The debate scheduled for this year signals an historic shift in the recognition of human rights related to sexual orientation.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who affirmed in August 2003 that lesbians and gays are covered by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, extended partnership benefits earlier this year to UN employees in a legally-recognized marriage or domestic partnership, whether same-sex or opposite-sex.

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For further information:

ARC International: John Fisher (613-291-5187) and Kim Vance (902-889-2288)

Action Canada for Population and Development:

Suki Beavers (613-562-0880 x 224) and Katherine McDonald (613-562-0880 x 225)

Egale Canada: Laurie Arron (416-839-7178)