Canada announces new support for projects working to end gender-based violence around the world
News release
December 7, 2022 - Ottawa, Canada - Global Affairs Canada
Globally, 1 in 3 women experience sexual and gender-based violence. Violence against women and girls, including that which occurs online, is prevalent in all societies and is a distinctive feature of conflict and crisis. Preventing and responding to all forms of sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices, especially for women and girls in all their diversity, is a priority of Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy.
The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, today announced $4.3 million in funding to support projects working to end gender-based violence around the world.
Minister Sajjan announced Canada’s support for the second phase of an initiative conducting research on technology-facilitated gender-based violence in the Global South at an event on technology-facilitated gender-based violence, which was hosted by the UN Population Fund and the Grace Farms Foundation and included stakeholders and partners.
In addition, as part of the $4.3 million announced today, Minister Sajjan announced a project that will support increased access to justice for women, girls and Indigenous persons in Guyana who have experienced violence, and Minister Joly announced a project to improve prison conditions and the treatment of women in contact with criminal justice systems.
These announcements were made during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which launched on November 25 (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) and will end on December 10 (Human Rights Day).
Quotes
“Supporting human rights is a core priority of Canada in its international engagement. Canada is committed to advancing gender equality, the empowerment of women and girls and the promotion and protection of their rights in all parts of the world.”
- Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs
“We must take collective action against gender-based violence, including online harassment and violence. To live in just communities, we need to work together to develop laws, policies, tools and institutions that ensure that all people are supported and protected and that their rights are upheld in both physical and digital spaces. Together, we can build a world where women and girls, in all their diversity, can control their own lives, bodies and futures without fear.”
- Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
Quick facts
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Canada is a long-standing international leader on women’s rights and gender equality.
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Framed by its feminist foreign policy, Feminist International Assistance Policy and National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, as well as through increased investments, Canada has been recognized as a top bilateral donor in supporting women’s rights organizations in developing countries, as well as for its efforts to end violence against women and girls.
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Between 2018 and 2021, Canada tripled its annual investments in preventing and responding to sexual and gender-based violence—from over $30 million in fiscal year 2017 to 2018 to over $91 million in fiscal year 2020 to 2021.
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In June 2022, Canada joined the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse.
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Canada is also a member of the Global Call to Action on Protection from Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies.
Related products
Associated links
- Joint statement marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
- Joint statement on the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse
- Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy
- Elimination of violence against women and girls
- Call to Action on Protection from Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies
Contacts
Adrien Blanchard
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Adrien.Blanchard@international.gc.ca
Haley Hodgson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Development
Haley.Hodgson@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
media@international.gc.ca
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