Canada bolsters support and commitments to peacekeeping at 2023 United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial

From: Global Affairs Canada

News release

December 6, 2023 - Accra, Ghana - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Pam Damoff, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Consular Affairs), today concluded her participation in the 2023 United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial (UNPKM) meeting hosted by Ghana.

She participated on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and delivered Canada’s pledges on her behalf, as well as on behalf of the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, and the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs.

During the UNPKM, the Parliamentary Secretary announced that Canada will provide specialized expertise, training and personnel, as well as over $20.4 million in funding for new projects and contributions to continue supporting UN peacekeeping operations, and will pledge up to an additional $6.2 million in support of protection of civilians. Canada’s pledges will respond to the critical needs identified by the UN, help enhance the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations and address priority themes outlined by Ghana, including advancing the Agenda for Peace. Today’s pledges will:

  • Extend operational support through episodic tactical airlift to provide necessary goods and equipment to UN peace operations
  • Strengthen and support the UN system through specialized training and capacity-building with new projects, such as combating misinformation and disinformation and hate speech in peace operations
  • Advance the Women, Peace and Security agenda through the Elsie Initiative and renewed efforts towards the meaningful participation of uniformed women in peace operations
  • Increase the protection of civilians, with a focus on women and children, and
  • Support the safety and security of peacekeepers.

Canada’s pledges signal an enduring commitment to the UN and multilateral engagement to address global peace and security challenges and strengthen the rules-based order.

While in Accra, Parliamentary Secretary Damoff met with representatives of other UN member states, as well as with senior UN officials. She also concluded a bilateral visit to Ghana, including a meeting with Ghana’s Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey.

Quotes

“As we continue to address the increasingly complex challenges to peace and security, multilateralism has never been more crucial. Canada will continue working with our partners to support effective and inclusive peace operations and protect and strengthen UN peacekeeping as an essential tool in the global peace and security efforts.”

- Pam Damoff, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Consular Affairs)

Quick facts

  • Canada is the eighth-largest financial contributor to UN peace operations through assessed contributions. Canada is also the third-largest contributor of extra-budgetary funding in support of peace operations, having contributed over $90 million between 2017 and 2021.

  • Canada is a co-chair of the UNPKM process and strongly supports the Ministerial. Canada co-chaired the preparatory meeting on Women in Peacekeeping in June 2023, alongside the governments of Bangladesh and Uruguay.

  • Canada currently has 47 military and police personnel deployed throughout the UN system, including to peacekeeping missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Middle East, Kosovo and Cyprus, as well as to other peace missions.

  • Outside the UN system, Canada also maintains a series of deployments of military, police and civilian personnel to international peace operations and related institutions, such as the Multinational Force and Observers in Egypt.

  • Canada has been providing episodic tactical airlift support to UN peace operations since July 2019, moving cargo and personnel between the UN Regional Service Centre Entebbe in Uganda, MONUSCO (the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and UNMISS (the UN mission in South Sudan).

  • Furthermore, Canada’s strong commitments to peacekeeping are underpinned by our ongoing efforts on the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations and the Vancouver Principles for Peacekeeping and the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers, both launched at the 2017 Peacekeeping Ministerial in Vancouver, British Columbia.

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Isabella Orozco-Madison
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Isabella.Orozco-Madison@international.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
media@international.gc.ca
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