GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, March 4, 1988 - Representatives of The War Amputations of Canada attending meetings of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, made a major breakthrough yesterday when the International Committee of Health Professionals announced they support the organization's draft declaration.

The declaration, or statement in principle, sets down guidelines by which the victims of human rights violation will receive compensation.

This declaration ties in with The War Amps desire to see Hong Kong PoWs compensated for the atrocities and brutal treatment they suffered in WWII Japanese prison camps.

Brian Forbes, legal counsel for The War Amps, stated ICHP's backing is of tremendous significance. "This group is made up of leading physicians throughout the world who have a very serious interest in human rights. They believe that victims of human rights violations deserve just compensation and rehabilitation," he stated.

"The ICHP, which has consultative status within the Human Rights Commission, has agreed to act in concert in presenting our draft declaration," Forbes added.

The War Amps has drawn up a draft declaration, that if accepted by the UN's Subcommittee of Human Rights, will provide a standard of international conduct that will require countries which have committed gross violations of human rights to compensate the victims of these violations, including the victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Dr. John Humphrey, a former director with the Human Rights Commission and consultant to The War Amps stated that the declaration is imperative to the claim of the Hong Kong PoWs.

"If the draft declaration is adopted at the Subcommittee's meeting next August, The War Amps' compensation claim for the Hong Kong veterans will carry greater weight," Humphrey stated.

Other leading non-governmental groups have also taken an interest in The War Amps claim and are reviewing the draft declaration.

"The International Committee of the Red Cross is currently looking at the declaration. They are quite sympathetic to what we are attempting to do for these PoWs," stated Forbes.

Forbes also stated that if the declaration is approved by the Human Rights Commission, it will then come up for official adoption at the United Nation's General Assembly.