Minister Gould announces new support for women’s reproductive health services in Pakistan

News release

December 9, 2019 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

Helping women and adolescent girls be in control of their bodies and make their own decisions is central to their empowerment and creating a more just, equal, and prosperous world. That is why Canada is building on its commitment to increase the availability of, access to and awareness of family planning and sexual and reproductive health services around the world.

Today, the Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of International Development, announced funding of up to $21 million over the next 5 years to support a gender-sensitive approach to women’s reproductive health services in Pakistan. The Healthy Families Pakistan initiative, led by the United Nations Population Fund in partnership with the Aga Khan Development Network, will provide women and adolescent girls with safe and accessible family planning resources.

The project will also address underlying factors that may create obstacles for women and adolescent girls in accessing health services, such as social and cultural barriers. By supporting reproductive health, Canada’s contribution will give women and adolescent girls living in underserved communities the opportunity to develop their full potential and fully contribute to their communities.

Quotes

“We know that when women and adolescent girls have access to a complete range of reproductive health services, they have better opportunities to be leaders in their communities and live healthy and productive lives. This investment will support thousands of women and adolescent girls in Pakistan and empower them to be all who they can be.”

- Karina Gould, Minister of International Development

Quick facts

  • In March 2017, Canada announced $650 million over 3 years to address gaps in sexual and reproductive health and rights around the world.

  • Canada is also a part of the Family Planning 2020 commitment, a global partnership to enable 120 million more women and adolescent girls to access contraceptives by 2020.

  • Lack of access to reproductive health services in Pakistan is a driver for maternal mortality, poor health and exclusion for women and adolescent girls.

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