The Network's Inauguration

QUEBEC - April 14, 2004 - The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bill Graham, inaugurates the Rights & Democracy Network, with the students.

The minister came to meet the students members of the Rights & Democracy Delegation of Laval University ( Quebec City), last April 14 and expressed his personal support for the activities of the Rights & Democracy Network.

"We are delighted by the creation of the Rights & Democracy Network, said Minister Graham , at the time of the inauguration which took place in Quebec. This network will make it possible to the students to meet and to dialogue with the Canadian and international community on issues closely held by Canadians, mainly human rights, democratic development and globalization ", he added.

"This student network provides a wonderful opportunity to recognize the contribution of young people to human rights issues," Minister Graham said. "I therefore reaffirm the Canadian government's interest in this initiative and encourage Rights & Democracy to promote the growth of delegations in Canada ."

During this inauguration, the president of Rights & Democracy, Mr. Jean-Louis Roy, introduced the Minister with the various student projects being carried out through Canada with the encouragement and support of the Rights & Democracy Network and the financial backing of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Canada.

The director of the Institut des Hautes Études Internationales, Louis Bélanger, expressed the support of the University toward the activities of the Rights and Democracy Delegation on the campus and mentioned the interest in and benfits for the students members of the Network.

The students members of the Laval Delegation then announced that the recognition of their Delegation, as a student club, was now official.

They also presented and discussed their own projects with the Minister and thanked him for his presence.

Click here to see the press release on the website of the Foreign Affairs Department.