Statement by Foreign Affairs Minister on International Women’s Day

March 8, 2019 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement:

“Canada’s feminist foreign policy is founded on a simple objective: to enable women and girls around the world to have an equal voice and equal rights, to benefit from equal opportunities and to live in equal safety and security.

“That is why Canada will always stand up for human rights—very much including women’s rights—even when speaking up has consequences.

“Standing up for women needs to be about more than words; it calls for action. From working with G7 partners to secure a $3.8-billion investment for women’s and girls’ education; to establishing the Elsie Initiative, aimed at significantly increasing the number of women in peacekeeping operations; to announcing the creation of Canada’s first ambassador position for women, peace and security—we believe that the economic and political empowerment of women and girls is critical to building a safer, more prosperous and inclusive world. 

“Today, as we celebrate the many ways women help to shape our world, we also underscore Canada’s commitment to fighting gender inequality and empowering women and girls everywhere.”

Quick fact

On September 21 and 22, 2018, Canada and the European Union co-hosted the first official Women Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Montréal to advance the global dialogue on the role of women in international affairs.