Good morning, everyone.
This is the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. The meeting today, June 8, 2010, is our 20 th.
Today we are conducting a special meeting at which we have a witness to discuss human rights in Afghanistan.
Our witness here today is Massouda Jalal, who is best known for her work in Afghanistan as the minister responsible for women's affairs. She was also a candidate for the presidency of her country and, before that, had a distinguished academic career.
I've just learned as well that this is her second round of testimony before a Canadian parliamentary committee within one week. I'm told that in Afghanistan last week, the special committee on Afghan affairs, which was travelling to Afghanistan, met with her and she provided testimony there. I alert members to that fact so you can consult the record and gain additional information should you have an interest in doing so.
That said, I'd like to turn the floor directly over to our witness.
I invite you to please begin your comments, after which we'll have some questions from the members of the committee. Thank you.