September 14, 2000 (11:40 a.m. EDT) No. 233
AXWORTHY LAUNCHES INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON INTERVENTION AND STATE SOVEREIGNTY
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today launched the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty (ICISS). The establishment of the Commission, a Canadian initiative, was announced by Prime Minister Chrétien in his address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 7 during the Millennium Summit in New York.
"In his Millennium report, the UN Secretary-General challenged the international community to address the highly complex problem of state sovereignty and international responsibility," said Mr. Axworthy. "Canada's human security agenda is all about putting people first. We are establishing this Commission to respond to the Secretary-General's challenge to ensure that the indifference and inaction of the international community, in the face of such situations as occurred in Rwanda and Srebernica, are no longer an option."
To lead this process, the Government of Canada has appointed two co-chairs of high international standing: Gareth Evans, a former Foreign Minister of Australia and currently President of the International Crisis Group, and Mohamed Sahnoun, a Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on issues related to the Horn of Africa.
The ICISS will draw on the expertise of a distinguished group of commissioners whose views span a range of different perspectives and experiences on the issue -- from the north and the south, as well as from the legal, political, ethical and operational dimensions of this complex question. The ICISS will also work with a network of scholars, experts and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) around the world to engage the very best thinking on the issue.
An Advisory Board, to be chaired by Minister Axworthy, will be composed of distinguished international figures, including current and former ministers, and practitioners from the academic, humanitarian and legal fields. Members of the Board will include individuals such as Ms. Soledad Alvear, Ms. Hanan Ashwari, the Right Honourable Robin Cook, and His Excellency Giorgos Papandreou.
The Board will serve as the reference body for the Commission, providing strategic oversight of its work, facilitating global debate, and building political support for the outcomes of this initiative. Board members will work to engage interested governments, institutions, and civil society to build high-level support for the Commission. As Chair of the Advisory Board, Mr. Axworthy will attend the Commission's meetings and provide input into its work. Once the report is completed, Advisory Board members will act as its key advocates to ensure that the political momentum required to follow up on its recommendations is maintained.
The Government of Canada will work to complement the Commission's efforts by promoting an open and transparent political dialogue on this issue in the coming months. Minister Axworthy launched that process in a meeting with colleagues yesterday, where he briefed them on the initiative and sought their support for fostering debate on these questions.
The purpose of the Commission is to build a broader understanding of the issues and to foster global political consensus on how to move them forward. Given the urgency of the issue and the timeliness of the debate, the Commission has been given a one-year mandate to complete its work. The Commission will report to Canada's foreign minister, and Canada will use the opportunity of UNGA 56 in 2001 to inform the international community of the Commission's findings and its recommendations for action.
"The right or responsibility of countries to intervene in other countries where human rights appear to be massively at risk has been perhaps the most troubling and difficult issue on the international policy agenda," said co-chair Gareth Evans. "Canada's initiative in creating this Commission gives us the hope of forging a new North-South consensus, and I feel privileged to be part of this effort."
"I have been involved in a very hands-on way in a variety of situations in Africa that have required intervention by forces operating under the aegis of the United Nations," said co-chair Mohamed Sahnoun. "The moral, legal, operational and political problems are indeed complex. I look forward to working with the other members of the Commission to try to bring a greater effectiveness to these types of operations, which have in the past tended to be carried out on an ad hoc basis. I congratulate Canada on its initiative."
"We are grateful for the strong political and financial support we have received from the Carnegie, MacArthur, and Rockefeller Foundations for this important initiative," said Minister Axworthy. "These Foundations are known for their leadership and vision. Their support for this Commission demonstrates, yet again, their courage in supporting intellectual and political efforts that are designed to improve the human condition and promote human dignity."
For more information, please visit the Commission's Web site at http://www.iciss.gc.ca
A backgrounder on the ICISS, a list of members of the Commission and biographical notes on the two co-chairs are attached.
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874