Toronto Media NGO tours Africa with Canada's Governor General Michaelle Jean

TORONTO, April 14 /CNW/ - From Wednesday April 14th, 2010 to Saturday April 24th, 2010, Ben Peterson, the Executive Director and Co-Founder of jhr (Journalists for Human Rights), will accompany Canada's Governor General, Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean and a team of Canadian delegates to undertake State visits to The Republic of Senegal, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Rwanda and Cape Verde.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for jhr to showcase the importance of the media in the development of Sub-Saharan Africa," says Mr Peterson.

Mr Peterson, Her Excellency and team will be greeted by the heads of state of each visited country. They will tour each state, visiting memorial sites, hospitals, military sites, Canadian funded day care centers, slave trade sites, local civil society and NGO's and various other Canadian funded projects.

On Friday April 16, in Dakar, Senegal Mr Peterson will participate in a panel discussion on the role of the media in the emergence of a new Africa, hosted by Michaëlle Jean. The panel discussion, organized by the Canadian Embassy in Senegal in cooperation with CESTII will take place at the University Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar.

For a complete itinerary please visit http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=13586

For more information on the delegates please visit http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=13584

jhr (Journalists for Human Rights), is a Canadian non-profit organization that was created to improve the African Media's ability to report more effectively on human rights issues. Since its founding in 2002, jhr has become Canada's largest media development organization, sparking dialogue on the role of human rights and social justice globally. jhr has worked in over 15 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and currently has offices in Toronto, Sierra Leone, Liberia and the DR Congo. jhr strives to make every person on earth fully aware of their rights, through mobilizing the media to spread rights awareness.

    
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                 WHO: Ben Peterson, Executive Director of jhr
                       (Journalists for Human Rights)

          WHAT: Touring Africa with Governor General Michaëlle Jean

         WHEN: Wednesday April 14th 2010 - Saturday April 24th, 2010.

                   WHERE: Senegal, DRC, Rwanda, Cape Verde

         WHY: To act as a Canadian NGO representative and to discuss
           the role of the media in the emergence of a new Africa
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For further information: Aileen Doyle, jhr's Community Programs Coordinator: e. [email protected], t. [phone], cell. [phone], w. www.jhr.ca, w. www.night4rights.com