Canada reaffirms commitment to the Women Peace and Security agenda

The initiatives announced today by the Government of Canada through the Peace and Stabilization Operations Program (PSOPs) have a total value of $17.1 million.

PSOPs supports projects ranging from conflict prevention and mediation to support for peace processes and peace operations, as well as post-conflict reconciliation. These are all areas in which efforts to achieve peace and security are strengthened and made more sustainable when women are integrated into the process.

Including Women and Victims of Gender-based Violence in Transitional Justice Processes

Funding announced: $909,604

Time frame: 2016–2019

Partner: International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ)

Working through the International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), Canada is providing almost $1 million to support the engagement of women and other victims of gender-based violence, to protect and defend their fundamental rights, and to provide technical support to government institutions and civil society organizations to ensure the design and delivery of transitional justice processes respond to the needs of victims. This initiative will specifically target ongoing processes in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Syria and Tunisia.

Rapid Deployment of Gender Experts to Secure Accountability for Sexual & Gender- Based (SGBV) Crimes

Funding announced: $2,132,017

Time frame: 2016–2017

Partner: UN Women

Canada is contributing $2 million to UN Women to increase the capacity to investigate and prosecute incidents of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in conflict-affected states. Canadian support will allow UN Women to reinforce investigative teams, help to ensure accountability for, and deter the reoccurrence of, conflict-related SGBV crimes.

Women Investing in More Secure Environments II (WISE II)

Funding announced: $1,164,000

Time frame: 2017–2019

Partner: Mercy Corps

WISE II will enhance the skills of 240 women leaders and engage 3,600 local women in peace campaigns to develop local initiatives that enhance and promote the rights of women and girls. 

Integrating Gender Equality into UN Operations

Funding announced: $1,082,160

Time frame: 2017–2019

Partner: UN Women

Canada is contributing $1 million to support a Senior Gender Advisor for the UN Secretary General. Based on the findings of the Global Study on implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325, it is critical that dedicated technical capacity on gender equality and women’s participation and leadership is placed at the centre of current UN peace and security reform efforts. The Senior Gender Advisor will be strategically placed in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General to provide planning and analysis at the highest levels of the United Nations.

Gender Diversity in Police Command Positions

Funding announced: $1,138,353

Time frame: 2016–2018

Partner: United Nations Police (UNPOL)

Canada is providing over $1 million to the United Nations Police (UNPOL). In concert with its allies, Canada is contributing to greater representation of women in UN peacekeeping missions by training up to 200 female police officers.

Supporting Women’s Contributions to Peace and Security

Funding announced: $2,367,631

Time Frame: 2017–2019

Partner: International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN)

Canada is contributing to the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) to provide small grants to women’s organizations working locally and nationally in their countries to promote peace, security, pluralism and equality in Syria, Iraq, Tunisia, Libya, Yemen, Colombia, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. ICAN works to increase capacity of grassroots women’s organizations by mentoring and training members of these organizations and by producing teaching tools.

Protection and Security of Women Journalists and Human Rights Defenders in Conflict and Post-Conflict

Funding announced: $399,375

Time Frame: 2017–2018

Partner: Alternatives Inc.

Canada will contribute to a project that aims to train woman journalists and woman human-rights defenders on how to better report on incidences of SGBV in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Sudan. It will also increase their abilities to effectively utilizse media platforms and communication tools to promote the rights of women and girls in conflict and post-conflict environments, and will help build a more informed and more effective national and international response to critical situations of SGBV.

Empowering Women for Peacebuilding, Inclusive Leadership and Human Rights

Funding announced: $934,835

Time Frame: 2017–2019

Partner: Women’s Learning Partnership for Rights, Development and Peace

This project aims to increase grassroots and refugee women’s leadership, peacebuilding and human-rights advocacy abilities; support activists in recovery efforts in conflict-affected countries; increase protection and promote the rights and safety of women and girls; and advocate for women’s inclusion in peace and security at the local, national and international levels. This project will focus on training on inclusive leadership, peacebuilding and human rights for grassroots women’s organizations in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya and Nigeria.

Empowering Women to Participate in the National Reconciliation Process in Iraq

Funding announced: $1,882,202

Time frame: 2017–2019

Partner: National Democratic Institute

This project will ensure that more women participate in the national reconciliation process in Iraq and that women’s voices are heard by top decision makers. This initiative will provide training to 15 Iraqi political and civic female activists, representing distinct religious, ethnic and sectarian groups to assume an advocacy role on the topic of reconciliation. Through strategic planning sessions with parliamentary committees and community meetings with grassroots activists, the group will utilize their growing organizational skills to broaden the network of woman leaders and petition actors within the central government to provide a space for women at the negotiating table.

Reinforcing Mali’s Commission for Truth, Justice and Reconciliation

Funding announced: $2,028,506

Time frame: 2017–2019

Partner: Avocats sans Frontières [lawyers without borders]

The project supports the Commission for Truth, Justice and Reconciliation of Mali to build the technical capacity of commission personnel with a particular focus on investigations of human rights abuses, mainly against women and girls.

Engaging Youth, Women and Key Community leaders for Durable Peace in Central and Northern Mali

Funding announced: $674,803

Time Frame: 2017–2019

Partner: Search for Common Ground (SFCG)

The project empowers youth and women and other key community stakeholders to become active peace ambassadors. These ambassadors will build avenues for constructive engagement between authorities, institutions and citizens for durable peace in Mali.

Indigenous Women Building Peace in Colombia

Funding announced: $542,613

Time frame: 2016–2019

Partner: Conciliation Resources

This project helps Indigenous women to effectively contribute to Colombia’s peace implementation process. It also works toward decisions that take into account the needs of Indigenous communities, especially those of Indigenous women and girls.

Reducing Violence Against Women in Politics in Haiti

Funding announced: $1,933,748

Time frame: 2016–2018

Partner: UN Women

Canada is providing $2 million to UN Women to reduce electoral violence against women, to increase the representation of women in parliament and to promote women’s political empowerment in Haiti. This initiative will help establish new legislative frameworks, provide technical support to key electoral institutions and engage communities to reduce social obstacles to women’s full participation in the political process.

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter: @CanadaFP
Like us on Facebook: Canada’s foreign policy - Global Affairs Canada