Jean-François Lisée to denounce human rights violations at Francophonie summit

Parti Quebecois Leader Pauline Marois raises the arm of PQ candidate for the riding of Rosemont Jean-Francois Lisee during an election campaign stop in Montreal on Saturday, August 4, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

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CTV MONTREAL
Published Thursday, October 11, 2012 3:56PM EDT

MONTREAL - Jean-François Lisée Quebec’s Minister of International Relations, Francophonie and Foreign Trade, will be addressing the issue of human rights in a speech at the 14th Francophonie Summit held in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He is expected to speak against human rights violations in Central Africa.

Premier Pauline Marois will also attend the conference but is not expected to meet with the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila.

Kabila was at the centre of controversy after violence and death accompanied his 2011 election.

The United Nations had condemned killings and detentions in the country.

Other international officials have also hesitated to confirm their presence at the summit because of the issue of human rights, including French President François Hollande.

-With a file from The Canadian Press