December 10, 2015 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada
The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, today announced funding that will help advance gender equality, protect human rights and reduce gender-based violence in developing countries. The announcement was made on the final day of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
The Government of Canada is partnering with Oxfam Canada on its Creating Space to Take Action on Violence Against Women and Girls project, which will help reduce gender-based violence—including child, early and forced marriage—through training and greater access to support services, such as legal advice, shelters and counselling.
With this support, Oxfam Canada will train community leaders in developing countries in ways to strengthen standards and legislation that protect the rights of women and girls. Canada’s contribution will also advance innovative approaches, using new technology—such as mobile applications—to end violence against women and girls.
It is anticipated that 245,000 people, mainly women and girls, will benefit directly from the project in six developing countries: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan and the Philippines.
Canada will contribute $15.7 million to the project over six years between 2015 and 2021.
Quotes
“Canada is committed to eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls while promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls around the world. We are proud to partner with Oxfam Canada in helping give communities the tools and knowledge needed to strengthen human rights while providing women and girls with access to support services that empower them.”
- The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie
“Oxfam Canada welcomes this opportunity to work hand in hand with Global Affairs Canada to prevent and reduce violence against women and girls. With the generous support of the Government of Canada and of Canadians from coast to coast to coast, our program will provide essential services and economic opportunities for survivors; it will challenge the gender-based discrimination that underpins these acts of violence and it will help us go beyond talking about terrible statistics to finding innovative strategies to end violence against women and girls. On International Human Rights Day, we are proud to see women’s rights and gender equality at the heart of Canada’s foreign assistance.”
- Julie Delahanty, Executive Director, Oxfam Canada
Quick facts
•According to the World Health Organization, one in three women in the world is the victim of physical or sexual violence.
•Ending child, early and forced marriage is a key target of the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
•Canada continues to advocate for concrete actions by states on this important issue at the UN General Assembly and UN Human Rights Council.
•Canada is a key participant in Together for Girls, a global public–private partnership that supports the governments of more than 14 countries in ending violence against children, particularly sexual violence against girls.
•Of particular importance is the prevention of sexual violence against women and girls in conflict situations. Canada has put in place the Action Plan for the Implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security. It includes provisions that support programming to protect women and girls in conflict areas.
Contacts
Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca