Justin Trudeau says 'the world benefits' with Canada on UN Security Council

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters Thursday that Canada and the world benefitwhen Canada is a member of the United NationsSecurity Council, part of his campaign to get a seat there in 2021.

Last year Trudeau said Canada is looking for one of 10 two-year rotatingseats on the council, which votes on matters of international peace and security.

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In a news conference during this week's UN General Assembly, Trudeausaid Canada wants to protect vulnerable people across the worldby tackling poverty and gender inequality.

"Canadians benefit when we have a time on the Security Council, but I don't think it's overly presumptuousof us to suggest that perhaps the world benefits when Canada has a voice on the Security Council," he said.

"We certainly look forward to makingsure we continuecontribute in every way we can to the multilateral institutions we believe inso deeply."

Trudeau called Canada a "strong and positive voice" in a number of global organizations.

"The way Canada has been engaging on the world stage is one that looks at protecting the most vulnerable," he said.

"Defending the rights of women and girls and the opportunities to grow our economies through supporting women and girls, to create peace and prosperity through supporting women and girls, through defence of marginalized and vulnerable people around the world, to lifting people out of poverty as a way of not just creating opportunity, but creating security and stability."

Canada has been on the council six times, most recently in 1999 and 2000.