Canada joins other countries in adopting key global strategies and policy options to enhance efforts to improve nutrition.
November 21, 2014 – Ottawa, Ontario – Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
Parliamentary Secretary Lois Brown, on behalf of the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, today concluded her visit to Rome where she participated in the second International Conference on Nutrition, convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). As head of the Canadian delegation, P.S Brown endorsed the Rome Declaration on Nutrition and voluntary Framework for Action on behalf of the Government of Canada, which set out key strategies and policy options to fight malnutrition around the world.
“Canada welcomes the Rome Declaration on Nutrition and the Framework for Action, which will help improve nutrition and food security for the most vulnerable.” said P.S. Brown. “Canada has long been a champion of improving nutrition and food security. It is a key component of Canada's efforts to help lift millions of people out of poverty and to reduce hunger around the world. By supporting coordinated efforts and drawing the world’s attention to food security and nutrition as a development priority, Canada is helping to reduce undernutrition and improve the lives of millions, particularly mothers and children.”
During her visit, P.S. Brown also attended the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement Global Gathering, and spoke with key Canadian nutrition partners, such as the Micronutrient Initiative, and other global leaders to reaffirm Canada’s leadership role and highlight the importance of intensifying global efforts to improve maternal, newborn and child health, with a focus on nutrition.
“Nutrition is a core component of Canada’s approach to improving women and children’s health, and a key pillar of Canada’s renewed commitment to Maternal, Newborn and Child Health for the period 2015-2020,” said Minister Paradis. “With our partners, we have made a significant difference in the global fight to improve nutrition, but much more remains to be accomplished. Going forward, Canada will continue to make nutrition a key element of our efforts to eliminate the preventable deaths of women and children within a generation.”
Canada has brought significant international attention to the issue of undernutrition. Canadian nutrition investments help to reduce global poverty, lessen the burden of disease and mortality related to undernutrition, and effectively maximize resources to produce meaningful, sustainable results. One of the world’s largest donors to basic nutrition, Canada is also the leading donor to the Micronutrient Initiative, which has contributed to a substantial impact on child survival globally, estimated to have saved more than three million children’s lives to date.
Maxime Robert
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie
343-203-6238
maxime.robert@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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