CANADA, JAPAN AND QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY SUPPORT REHABILITATION SERVICES IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA KINGSTON — Susan Whelan, Minister for International Cooperation, and Peter Milliken, Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands, today announced a $1.5-million contribution to Queen's University to provide education, policy development and technical assistance to rehabilitation centres throughout the Republika Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina), in collaboration with the government of Japan. "Canada and Japan have often participated in joint development initiatives; but this initiative takes our partnership to a new level," Minister Whelan said. "Canada is proud to be sharing the expertise developed at Queen's University and to be contributing directly to Bosnia and Herzegovina's social and economic development as well as promoting inter-ethnic understanding and peace." This initiative represents a unique new partnership in international cooperation between the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Government of Japan, which will fund facilities and provide equipment to be used in the rehabilitation project. "I've seen for myself what positive effects programs like this one have produced in Bosnia," Mr. Milliken said. "This project will change the lives of up to 20,000 physically disabled persons many of whom are children with physical disabilities and war related injuries." The International Centre for the Advancement of Community Based Rehabilitation (ICACBR) was established at Queen's University in Kingston in May 1991, as one of six CIDA Centres of Excellence. It is committed to advancing the concept and practice of community-based rehabilitation in partnership with persons with disabilities and their communities around the world. "The project in Republika Srpska builds on our previous work in the development of community based rehabilitation in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina," says Dr Lorna Jean Edmonds, Project Director and Queen's Associate Director of ICACBR. "Currently, only half the Bosnian population has access to community rehabilitation services, so this partnership will ensure a truly national rehabilitation program accessible to all persons with disabilities regardless of geography, age, and ethnic background." Funding for initiatives such as this was provided for in the December 2001 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework. -30- Information: Hilary Humphrey |