February 20, 2015 - Social justice is, at its core, about equal opportunities for all people. This is fundamental to Canada’s development work. Through our development partners in civil society, government and the private sector we are working to build a world where any person, regardless of race, religion or gender, can by hard work and determination make a successful life in the career of their choice.
As Canadians we recognize how important it is to promote and protect human rights for all, especially for women and girls. When women have access to capital, they start businesses, create jobs and invest in their families and their communities. When maternal mortality decreases, families thrive. When girls are educated, they tend to marry later, have greater knowledge of family planning, provide better health and nutrition for their families, and earn more income than those with little or no schooling.
As a nation that has focused on maternal, newborn and child health, it is natural that we would also prioritize children’s rights by protecting girls and boys in developing countries from violence, exploitation, and abuse. This is an extension of our domestic responsibilities under Canada’s National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking. By working in partnership with developing countries, civil society and other donors, our development programming is helping to prevent and combat the trafficking of girls and boys, ending child marriage, reducing gang/terrorism recruitment and holding those that victimize children to account. In this way, children can grow up without the devastating baggage of childhood abuse.
Our great nation is founded upon respect for the rule of law in that we know that no one is above the law. This understanding informs our respect for human rights, the protection of personal property, and the role of democracy in preserving our freedoms. On these pillars we have built the great nation that is Canada, and with these concepts we are helping other nations expand personal freedoms and a respect for human rights. I am proud of this history, and on this World Day of Social Justice, I invite you to celebrate the progress we have made and look forward to a future in which all people, everywhere, have what they need to thrive.
Christian Paradis
Minister of International Development and La Francophonie
