October 6, 2014 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird announced in the House of Commons today that Canada will undertake renewed action, in coordination with our allies and partners, to respond to the heinous acts of sexual violence and other human rights abuses being committed by ISIL, the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, against women and children.
“ISIL, a self-proclaimed terrorist caliphate, poses a major threat not only to the region, but also to us here in Canada,” said Baird. “Canada will not stand by as ISIL commits unspeakable atrocities and crimes against humanity, including the kidnapping, torture and rape of women and children. The systematic use of sexual violence as a weapon of war demands an effective and timely response, which is why we are announcing today a number of additional measures that Canada will take to support the innocent victims of ISIL’s brutality and depravity.”
The measures announced today include:
- A contribution of up to $5 million to Justice Rapid Response and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to help respond to and investigate sexual violence and other serious human rights abuses.
- A $5-million contribution for the prevention of and response to sexual violence and related abuses, including increased access to services and treatment for Syrian and Iraqi refugees and displaced persons who have been victims of violence in ISIL-affected areas.
- Participation in a joint Canada-U.K. assessment mission in Iraq to identify initiatives that will help assist victims of ISIL’s crimes.
- Canada will support the deployment of a specialized expert on sexual violence to the Human Rights Council’s independent Fact-Finding Mission on Iraq.
Canada will also continue to provide leadership on the issue of sexual violence as a weapon of war by ensuring that the plight of victims and survivors of ISIL’s sexual violence, including crimes against religious minorities, remains at the top of the global agenda.
A backgrounder follows.
- 30 -
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter: @DFATDCanada
Like us on Facebook: Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada-DFATD
Since early 2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorist group has been carrying out a murderous rampage across Iraq, seizing territory and systematically raping, torturing and killing children and women, as well as displacing more than one million civilians. Canada strongly condemns these inhumane acts of violence and is committed to working with our allies and partners to eliminate all sexual violence against women and girls, to protecting their human rights and promoting their well-being and prosperity.
To that end, on October 6, 2014, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird announced a number of new initiatives that will bring immediate and sustained assistance to survivors of ISIL’s reign of terror. They are in addition to the $28.9 million in humanitarian assistance that Canada has already committed in 2014 for Iraqis affected by the conflict ($19.4 million) and Syrian refugees ($9.5 million).
Canada’s support will help strengthen the ability of local, regional and international partners to respond to the serious human rights abuses being perpetrated by ISIL against innocent civilians in Iraq and Syria. Project activities will include training experts in the response to sexual violence in conflict, including the investigation and documentation of crimes of sexual violence committed by ISIL.
Canada will support the work of international and local organizations working with victims of sexual and gender-based violence, including women and children. The impact of sexual violence is devastating for the victims as well as for their families and communities. In order to stabilize and reconstruct the communities affected by ISIL, victims need assistance to rehabilitate themselves and their roles in their families and communities, including treatment such as psychosocial support, as well as programs to afford the victims access to justice and re-establish women as productive members of their societies.
Canada and the United Kingdom will deploy experts on a joint assessment mission to Iraq, where the experts will work to identify local organizations with which to partner on future projects that respond directly to the rampant sexual violence being inflicted on women and children by ISIL. The results of the mission will be used to identify capacity-building projects that will empower women and children who have been victims of ISIL’s brutal violence, as well as to develop additional programs to assist survivors in gaining access to the justice system in order to hold perpetrators to account.
As like-minded allies, Canada and the United Kingdom are committed to promoting the human rights of women and girls, including the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. The two countries continue to work closely on various international efforts to end sexual violence in conflict, including through the G-7, at the UN, and through other forums, such as the recent Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict in London, United Kingdom.
