Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Human Rights

Issue 15 - Minutes of Proceedings - February 5, 2015

OTTAWA, Thursday, February 5, 2015
(27)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 8:01 a.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Mobina S. B. Jaffer, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Ataullahjan, Eggleton, P.C., Jaffer, Nancy Ruth and Ngo (6).

In attendance: Mark Palmer, Acting Procedural Clerk; Julia Nicol and Jean-Philippe Duguay, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament; Ceri Au, Communications Officer.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, May 6, 2014, the committee continued its study to examine and report on how the mandates and practices of the UNHCR and UNICEF have evolved to meet the needs of displaced children in modern conflict situations, with particular attention to the current crisis in Syria. (For the complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 9.)

WITNESSES:

Doctors Without Borders:

Stephen Cornish, Executive Director.

Canadian Red Cross:

Hossam Elsharkawi, Director, Emergencies and Recovery, International Operations.

International Committee of the Red Cross:

Rob Young, Senior Delegate.

Norwegian Refugee Council:

Emma Bonar, Youth Programme Manager
(by video conference).

As individuals:

James Milner, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Carleton University;

François Audet, Professor, Department of Management and Technology, University of Quebec at Montreal.

The chair made a statement.

Ms. Bonar, Messrs. Cornish, Elsharkawi and Young each made a statement and answered questions.

At 9:04 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 9:07 a.m., the committee resumed.

Messrs. Milner and Audet each made a statement and answered questions.

At 9:58 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Adam Thompson

Clerk of the Committee