Order, please. Good afternoon, everyone.
On this day, October 23, 2012, I welcome you to the 52nd meeting of the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.
We are televised today, so be on your best behaviour. Your mother might be watching.
We have as our witness today, Neil Reeder, who is the director general of the Latin America and Caribbean bureau of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
Mr. Reeder has been with us before. He is returning to give us an update following the Venezuelan elections.
By a curious coincidence, we also are all now in receipt of the government's response to our third report—more correctly, it's the third report of the standing committee, but it originated here—relating to the situation of human rights in Venezuela. That has been distributed to committee members for your reading pleasure.
The usual rules apply here. We'll have a 10-minute presentation. Then we'll look at how much time is available and divide that amount of time by six, which will allow every member of the committee to ask a question and get a fulsome answer.
I should mention, by way of introduction, that Mr. Reeder will be responding to a motion that was passed by the subcommittee, specifically:
That the Subcommittee invite Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade officials to discuss the processes by which the Government of Canada raises the profile and increases protection of human rights defenders and the effects of these actions;
—so their effectiveness—
for example by awarding the ‘Embassy of Canada in Venezuela Human Rights Award’ and similar prizes.
Mr. Reeder, we look forward to your testimony. Please feel free to begin at any time.