Vancouver, British Columbia (June 4, 2019) – The Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC) welcomes the Government of Canada’s announcement of continued and increased investment to advance gender equality of women and girls. This represents a ramped-up investment to $1.4 billion annually for ten years to support global health, including $700 million for the most underfunded areas of sexual and reproductive health and rights – a commitment that will have a significant impact on empowering 18 million women and girls. The announcement was made today by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Vancouver at the Women Deliver Conference.
“This progressive investment demonstrates Canada’s commitment to continued leadership in the areas of maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH), as well as sexual and reproductive health rights, in Canada and abroad,” said Nicolas Moyer, President and CEO of CCIC. “We are pleased to see this important contribution to fulfilling Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy.”
Canada’s commitment to supporting effective and impactful development cooperation, including advancing gender equality, should include additional sustained and predictable increases to Canada’s Official Development Assistance (ODA). Such increases will be required to meet Canada’s commitment to the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – and to achieving the government’s own objectives as expressed in the Feminist International Assistance Policy, which is focused on empowering women and girls to achieve positive change.
“Today’s announcement comes following a sustained initiative by Canadian civil society organizations to build a case for investing in strong Canadian leadership in support of women, adolescent and children’s health and rights around the world,” adds Mr. Moyer. “The success of the Thrive Agenda shows how civil society working in coalitions can enable positive and lasting change. We look forward to continuing to work with our member organizations and the government to implement this commitment.”
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About the Canadian Council for International Co-Operation (CCIC)
The Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC) is Canada’s national association representing international development and humanitarian organizations. Together with 80+ member organizations, CCIC seeks to end global poverty and to promote social justice and human dignity for all. CCIC is committed to making this goal a public and political priority and to encouraging the actions necessary to make a poverty-free world a reality.
CCIC is a member of the Future Planning Initiative, a coalition of Canadian organizations working together to advocate for Canadian leadership on SRHR. Recognizing these rights as central to good health and sustainable development, the Future Planning Initiative works to push the SRHR agenda forward and, along with many other organizations, played a key partnership role in advocating for the Thrive Agenda.
For more information and to arrange an interview with Nicolas Moyer, President-CEO of CCIC, contact:
Sophie Rosa
Director, Public Affairs and Member Services
Canadian Council for International Co-operation
E-mail: [email protected]
Cell phone: (613) 219-6514