CAUT has been one of the leaders in lobbying UNESCO to adopt an international statement on the rights and responsibilities of teachers in higher education. The proposed recommendation will be before the general convention of UNESCO in early November. The recently received and welcome letter from the Council of Ministers of Education indicates that Canada will be actively supporting the proposed statement.

Thank you for your letter of June 26, 1997, with respect to the General Conference of UNESCO and the adoption of the proposed recommendation concerning the rights and responsibilities of higher education teaching personnel.

As you note in your letter, Canada's position of support for the recommendation was clearly enunciated by us in advance of the experts' meeting last fall and was clearly expressed by our delegate. In addition, the amendment from the Canadian delegate was useful and appropriate.

I have no hesitation in stating that Canada will both support this recommendation actively and, as you mentioned, discuss its strong merits with other member states of UNESCO, so that the adoption of this important recommendation be assured.

From my own perspective, such an adoption is important, not only with respect to the rights and responsibilities of those persons working in the education sector, but also because it engages the international community in a more general sense in the direction of respect for universal human rights. Canada has an obligation, both by conviction and by tradition, to lead in such matters.

Paul Cappon
Director General, Council of Ministers of Education, Canada