Mr. Speaker, two million children have been killed, between four and five children crippled, and ten million psychologically scarred by the ravages of war over the past ten years.
That is what UNICEF says in its 1996 report released yesterday. Various conflicts around the world have left in their wake some horrifying and monstrous scenes in which children are all too often the victims.
Confronted with this sad finding, Western countries, including Canada, are forced to give serious thought to their moral obligations. For example, UNICEF does not hesitate to blame this sad situation in part on antipersonnel mines.
Yet Canada remains reluctant to dispose of its own mines as long as the other countries have not done so.
In the name of these children who are war victims, Canada should lead the way in eliminating these weapons of suffering.