Ottawa – Earlier Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced that Rob Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, will travel to Asunción, Paraguay, from June 26 to 29 to participate in the 54th regular session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS).
While in Asunción, Parliamentary Secretary Oliphant reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to supporting democratic governance, the rule of law and the protection of human rights in the Western Hemisphere, including gender equality, inclusion and respect for diversity. He engaged with heads of delegation from other OAS member states to discuss regional challenges, including the situations in Haiti and Nicaragua and the need to defend democratic institutions and strengthen regional security.
The Parliamentary Secretary will also engage with OAS and government officials, civil society organizations and other stakeholders to discuss Canada’s key priorities in the Americas, including the peacebuilding process in Colombia, supporting the OAS Voluntary Group on the Inter-American Democratic Charter, promoting the rights of LGBTQI+ individuals and reaffirming the rights of Indigenous peoples.
“I am looking forward to a productive visit to Paraguay for the OAS General Assembly. Canada is committed to building a more secure, stable and prosperous Americas, and during my visit, I will meet with counterparts and with representatives of civil society organizations to explore how we can work together to promote these priorities in the hemisphere.” – Rob Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs