CANADIAN STUDENTS PRAISE HUMAN RIGHTS DAY PROGRAM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 003649

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DRL/SEA - PETER SAWCHYN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KPAO CA ID
SUBJECT: CANADIAN STUDENTS PRAISE HUMAN RIGHTS DAY PROGRAM

REF: A. (A) SECSTATE 202764


B. (B) OTTAWA 03380

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The Embassy Hosts Fourth Grade Students
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1. On December 8, Ambassador David H. Wilkins hosted 55
fourth grade students from the Glen Ogilvie Elementary School
in Gloucester, their teachers and a dozen chaperones at the
Embassy in Ottawa to observe the 57th anniversary of the
signing of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. The
highlight of the two-hour visit was Ambassador Wilkins
reading of "If a Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks" by
Faith Ringgold, the graphics of which were projected onto a
screen for all to see. Prior to the reading, the students
passed through security, prompting a discussion of the
importance of effective security procedures. The group
received a brief tour of the Embassy, an explanation of its
role and responsibilities, a mini-lesson on American civics
as well as a farewell holiday ginger cookie and fruit. At
the end of the reading, the Ambassador, seated comfortably in
a chair with the students surrounding him on the floor,
warmly responded to questions like "Who is your favorite
hero?" "What does this story mean to you?" and "Did you ever
meet Rosa Parks?" He stressed how fortunate Canadians and
Americans are to live in countries that respect basic human
rights.


2. On December 6, Poloff and OMS visited the school to frame
the visit, discuss the U.S. role in the creation of the
International Declaration on Human Rights and introduce some
of the players in America's Civil Rights Movement. This
provided the opportunity to discuss Eleanor Roosevelt as well
as Canadian John Peters Humphrey, early collaborators on
writing and passing the original document. OMS Carolyn
Alston taught the students the Negro spiritual "O Freedom"
from the book and the students sang it for Ambassador Wilkins
during Thursday's reading. To express their appreciation,
each of the two classes made student presentations to the
Ambassador of a handmade, signed card and a book with
pictures and stories about each student's ethnic background
and country of origin. The teacher told poloff that, prior
to this Human Rights Day program, she had not had a chance to
focus on her class's diversity and was appreciative of the
incentive.


3. Both the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the
A-Channel broadcast the event on their evening news shows.
During a personal interview by one station with a student
attending the event, the student said he learned "that each
person can make a difference" and, when asked how it was to
meet the American Ambassador, he replied "I think he's a
really cool guy!" One parent chaperone said to poloff, "I
didn't realize how special coming to the Embassy would be.
This was great!" For photos of the event and links to U.S.
human rights policy and the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, visit the Embassy's website at
www.usembassycanada.gov.

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Human Rights Events Across Canada
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4. Human Rights Day events took place across Canada and
included the Montreal-based Rights and Democracy event at the
Canadian Museum of Civilization in Ottawa, attended by
poloff, on December 8. The GoC-sponsored NGO, created by
Canada's Parliament in 1988, presented the 14th annual John
Humphrey Freedom Award to Yan Christian Warinussy, a human
rights lawyer and the Executive Director of the Institute for
Research, Analysing and Development of Legal Aid, in
Manokwari, West Papua. In the presence of the Minister
Counselor from the Indonesian Embassy, Mr. Warinussy, dressed
in traditional tribal clothing, condemned what he
characterized as Indonesia's brutal 43 year repressive
occupation and challenged the Canadian Government to
facilitate peaceful dialogue between the Government of
Indonesia and West Papuans. His colleague, Octovianus Motte,
a West Papuan activist who received asylum in the United
States and whom the laureate had not seen in eight years,
accused the Indonesian government of "genocide, summary
executions and rape." For more information about Warinussy's
organization, visit www.pacificpeoplespartnership.org.


5. On December 2, ConGen-Montreal CG attended the Human
Rights Day event sponsored by the International Centre for
Human Rights Education or EQUITAS, previously known as the
Canadian Human Rights Foundation. The organization provides
overseas human rights training seminars and offers a summer
internship program for Canadian youth. Senator Romeo
Dallaire, Canadian Lieutenant General, former Force Commander
of the United Nations Mission to Rwanda and member of the
Prime Minister's Special Advisory Team on Sudan, was the
featured speaker.

6. On November 28, Toronto Mayor David Miller honored
thirteen people and organizations who contributed to the
elimination of violence, racism, sexism, homophobia,
homelessness, hate crimes, hunger, poverty and illiteracy.
2005 recipients included the Native Learning Centre, The
Lesbian and Gay Community Appeal and the Toronto Chapter of
the Chinese Canadian National Council.


7. Comment: Post believes that the invitation to the 55
Ottawa school students resonated well beyond those in
attendance, in part due to the media coverage and in part due
to the fact that an additional 100 parents were made aware
that their children had been welcomed into what is sometimes
unfortunately perceived as a nearly impenetrable fortress,
the American Embassy in Ottawa. Post will continue to
explore other appropriate opportunities to engage young,
potential leaders by both inviting them to the Embassy for
additional programming as well as finding appropriate venues
for the Ambassador to get out the U.S. human rights message.

Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa

WILKINS