UN chief to welcome Canada back to world stage

A greater female representation among peacekeepers could help to curb the phenomenon of the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, he suggested Thursday on the sidelines of his meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki -moon in Ottawa.

– Reuters pic, February 10, 2016.UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon travels to Canada this week to applaud Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s stance on welcoming Syrian refugees and to encourage a return to global peacekeeping.

Canadian involvement to United Nations peacekeeping dwindled sharply in the Harper years as the military was enmeshed in Afghanistan.

The meeting is part of Trudeau’s efforts to have Canada work more closely with the world body.

“I know that the prime minister may have all different priorities but I’m sure that Prime Minister Trudeau and his government will pay more focus on this matter”.

“We need states that are party to the Arms Trade Treaty to set an example in fulfilling one of the treaty’s main purposes: controlling arms flows to actors that may use them in ways that breach worldwide humanitarian law”, Ban said in a speech in London. “Canada has completely changed – completely changed and shown leadership”, said Ban.

Mr. Ban said this is the fifth time he has travelled to Canada as secretary-general, and the first time since Mr. Trudeau took office.

Canada never has, despite Pearson’s role in creating it.

Mr. Ban and Mr. Trudeau will take part in a student assembly at an Ottawa high school Thursday afternoon followed by a dinner at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que. But Ban was full of praise for Canada’s plan to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees displaced by the fighting.

“We’re looking at a number of windows in the coming years”.

Stephen Harper’s former Conservative government was criticized for failing to make a strong bid for a seat on the 15-member council in 2010.

Mr. Trudeau said the government is now in talks with the United Nations to see how Canada can re-engage in peacekeeping missions, but did not indicate any regions or countries it would be interested in doing so.

Should a government stick to delivering on campaign promises or develop policy that addresses the ever changing circumstances that they face?