Mr. Speaker, today our Prime Minister is attending the Paris summit on AIDS.
This summit is a French initiative in co-operation with the WHO. Forty-two countries representing 70 per cent of the world population will make a joint acclamation of their commitment to fight HIV-AIDS. The Paris declaration will reflect the principles and values already adopted by the United Nations for HIV-AIDS and will add a new component for nations to respond to urgent needs with practical and lasting measures. This declaration would be operational by January 1996.
AIDS is a public health issue and political world leaders have made the fight against this disease a priority. Special attention will be given to reducing the vulnerability of women to AIDS, to the important role of associations of persons living with the virus, and to strengthening national and international mechanisms for human rights and ethics as they relate to AIDS.
I am proud to say that Canada has built an international reputation as a leader in these three sectors.