Okay, everybody, I'm going to gavel us into session.
Welcome to the 61st hearing of the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development on this Thursday, December 6, 2012.
Today's meeting is televised. Those of you watching in TV land, do not adjust your sets; the fact that we're all in black and white is purely coincidental.
We have as our witness today, Mario Silva, a long-time friend and former member of this committee.
Mario, I'm delighted to see you here. It is always a pleasure.
I want to mention to committee members that sometimes we allow our time to run over. Today, that would perhaps be inappropriate, given that this is December 6, a day of commemoration for the women who were killed on this day 23 years ago. In memoriam, a number of Standing Order 31 statements will be made. I'm going to be a little more persnickety about the time of your questions than I normally would be, to make sure we can get out of here on time.
Mario, I'd like to turn the floor over to you to begin your testimony.