{image}An exceptional woman. We will wait for such a politician for many years to come. She is a person who came from activism and who clearly says that she has been a feminist since childhood, open to dialogue with civil society. Michelle Jean has all the qualities that we are not used to seeing in our politicians, described the Canadian governor-general by BaBe president Sanja Sarnavka.
Canadian Governor Michelle Jean, who recently visited Croatia, was a well-known TV journalist in Quebec. She covered the war in Croatia, especially the fate of refugees. She was also known as a social activist for the protection of women and children from violence, and for helping young people with disabilities. During her four-day visit to Croatia, the Governor also met with representatives of civil society to discuss the state of human rights in Croatia. The meetings were also attended by BaBe President Sanja Sarnavka.
During her stay in Croatia, the Canadian governor also visited Vukovar, where she gave a lecture on education, living together, and reconciliation at the local high school.
– Djeca mogu učiniti ono što je potrebno za budućnost Vukovara – naučiti živjeti zajedno, poštovati različitosti i kroz dijalog, poštivajući jedni druge, postati jamci nade i budućnosti te vođe novog doba – poručila je vukovarskim gimnazijalcima. Guvernerka je i sama bila izbjeglica pred diktaturom na Haitiju te se borila s predrasudama zbog boje svoje kože.
– Rasizam se hrani predrasudama i neznanjem i dovodi do isključivosti. Nema društva koje može napredovati isključivanjem manjina – kazala je guvernerka Jean. Dodala je kako su solidarnost i razumijevanje ključni za izgradnju mira, te da društvo ne može napredovati ako je usredotočeno na mržnju. Michaelle Jean je tijekom posjeta Hrvatskoj imala i više susreta s predstavnicima civilnog društva. Prije imenovanja na guvernersku dužost u rujnu 2005., Michalle Jean je bila poznata televizijska novinarka u pokrajini Quebec. Pratila je rat u Hrvatskoj, a posebno sudbinu izbjeglica. Bila je poznata i kao socijalni aktivist za zaštitu žena i djece od nasilja, te za pomoć mladim hendikepiranim osobama.
