Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Human Rights

Issue 16 - Minutes of Proceedings - May 7, 2015

OTTAWA, Thursday, May 7, 2015
(30)

[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, Eaton, Eggleton, P.C., Hubley, Jaffer, Ngo and Tannas (8).

In attendance: Julia Nicol and Jean-Philippe Duguay, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.

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:

UNICEF Headquarters:

Dr. Yasmin Ali Haque, Deputy Director, Office of Emergency Programmes (by video conference).

Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada:

Mark Gwozdecky, Director General, Middle East and Maghreb;

Leslie E. Norton, Director General, International Humanitarian Assistance.

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees:

Furio De Angelis, Representative in Canada.

The chair made a statement.

Dr. Haque made a statement and answered questions.

At 8:46 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 8:49 a.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Gwozdecky and Ms. Norton each made a statement and answered questions.

At 9:27 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 9:29 a.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. De Angelis made a statement and answered questions.

At 10:03 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Mark Palmer

Clerk of the Committee