UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY FOR PEACE TO RECEIVE $3 MILLION FROM CANADA TO SUPPORT NEW PROGRAMME

                                                SOC/4555

                                                      15 January 200

UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY FOR PEACE TO RECEIVE $3 MILLION

FROM CANADA TO SUPPORT NEW PROGRAMME

San José, Costa Rica, 11 January (UPEACE) -- The United Nations University for Peace is to receive $3 million from Canada to support democratic development and human rights in the developing world.  The contribution was announced today by Maria Minna, Canada’s Minister for International Cooperation.  The money, which will come from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), will provide sustainable assistance for program development. 

Ms. Minna visited the UPEACE San José campus today with a high-level delegation of Canadian government officials and parliamentarians.  The delegation examined ongoing programs at the University, such as those on Environmental Security and Sustainability, and Peace Education, and new programs in the development stage, such as the programmes on Human Security, Human Rights and issues related to Women, Children and Conflict. 

“Without democracy, a country’s social and economic development can be limited.  Without progress in reducing poverty and inequity, populations remain at risk,” Ms. Minna said.  “Civil conflict leaves children and women unprotected.  Human rights are violated regularly.  This is why CIDA supports work that defends human rights in Latin America.”

Established in 1980 in San Jose, Costa Rica, UPEACE works towards the prevention, management, and resolution of conflict worldwide. 

The newly elected Rector of UPEACE, Martin Lees, expressed his sincere gratitude for the willingness of the Minister and CIDA to support the University and its new program.  Their pledge to support UPEACE is crucial for the expansion of teaching faculty, the launching of new degree courses, and developing a network of peace institutions.  He also expressed his thanks to the Costa Rican Government for its sustained support throughout the revitalization and extension of the activities of the University.

For further information, please contact:  Ms. Ivonne Aguilar, Media Coordinator; Tel:  (506) 205-9000, Fax:  (506) 249-1929, E-mail:  infor@upeace.org.

For further information please contact: Ms. Ivonne Aguilar, Media Coordinator Tel.: 205-9000, Fax: 249-1929 e-mail: iaguilar@ecouncil.ac.cr

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