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The Honourable David Pratt, P.C. is currently
working as a consultant. From 2004-2008, he served as Special Advisor
to the Secretary General of the Canadian Red Cross where his focus was
on issues related to international humanitarian law, the control of
small arms and light weapons and government relations. He also led the
Canadian Red Cross “Auxiliary to Government” project which promoted a
new relationship with governments at all levels.
Mr. Pratt served as an elected
representative at the municipal, regional and federal levels for 16
years. He was first elected to the House of Commons for
Nepean-Carleton in 1997. He was Chair of the Standing Committee on
National Defence and Veterans Affairs – a position he held from 2001
to 2003. He also chaired the first Liberal Caucus Committee on Foreign
Affairs, National Defence and International Cooperation and served as
a member of the Justice Committee’s Sub-Committee on National
Security. Mr. Pratt was Canada’s 36th Minister of National
Defence.
As Canada’s Special Envoy to Sierra Leone
under two foreign affairs ministers, Mr. Pratt was involved
extensively in promoting more Canadian assistance to the war torn
country as well as legislation to address the “conflict diamonds”
issue.
Keywords: Conflict prevention, small arms and light weapons
control, international humanitarian law, war-affected children,
security sector reform.
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