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January 18, 2001
The Hon John Manley,
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade,
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K1A 0A6
Dear Mr. Manley:
I am writing on behalf of the members of the National Council of Women
of Canada to thank you for the stand which you have taken in the case
of Bariya Ibrahim Magazu, the Nigerian girl who was sentenced to 180 lashes
after she became pregnant as a result of sexual assault by several older
men. As you know, our organization has been very concerned about the fate
of this girl and the issues it raises in relation to several international
conventions affecting the rights of women and children.
The Globe and Mail of January 15 has now reported that the sentence has
been reduced and postponed indefinitely to allow for the preparation of
legal appeals. It is to be hoped that the postponement is a permanent
one.
It seems clear that this change in the court decision is in response to
pressure from the international community.
We appreciate the leadership that you have taken in this matter, which
will surely help to set an important precedent in international recognition
of the rights of women and children.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Hutchinson,
President
National Council of Women of Canada
Copies to: Hon Jean Chrétien, Prime Minister of Canada
Hon Hedy Fry, Minister for the Status of Women
Hon Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice
Ruth Brown, NCWC Convener Health and Welfare
Catharine Laidlaw-Sly, NCWC VP Citizenship and International Affairs
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