ASEAN member countries and Canada have agreed to improve the protection of migrant workers during the 14th ASEAN-Canada Dialogue Meeting in Ottawa, Canada, on May 8, 2017.
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Jakarta (ANTARA News) – ASEAN member countries and Canada have agreed to improve the protection of migrant workers during the 14th ASEAN-Canada Dialogue Meeting in Ottawa, Canada, on May 8, 2017.
This was stated in a press statement from the Directorate General of ASEAN Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, received in Jakarta, on Tuesday.
“ASEAN and Canada share common views and concerns about violence against women and children, human trafficking, and the protection of migrant workers,” Director General of ASEAN Cooperation, Jose Tavares, who led the Indonesian delegation to the meeting, stated.
ASEAN member countries consider Canada as an important partner in promoting human rights and democracy in the region.
“In response to human rights issues raised by Canada, Indonesia underscored the efforts to promote and protect human rights, which is a common commitment between ASEAN and Canada,” he noted.
On that occasion, Canadian Delegation chairman Donald Bobiash stated that Canada had lauded the efforts of ASEAN countries in the protection of the rights of migrant workers.
“ASEANs efforts to promote and protect the rights of ASEAN migrant workers are appreciated by Canada. Canada will realize the project worth US$5.5 million in an attempt to support and protect the rights of ASEAN migrant workers as implemented by Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus statement in Sept 2016,” he remarked.
In addition to addressing human rights issues, the two sides also discussed strengthening in various areas of cooperation between ASEAN and Canada, such as global economic environment, counter-terrorism/extremism and radicalization, connectivity, climate change, and disaster mitigation.
The partnership between ASEAN and Canada has been started since 1977. The cooperation between the two parties has reached an enhanced partnership.
“Canada praises the well-established ASEAN-Canada partnership for 40 years. Canada expects the status of the partnership to be strengthened continuously in the future,” he remarked.(*)