Save the Children Responds to the Canadian Government’s Feminist International Assistance Policy

Toronto, June 9, 2017…Save the Children welcomes the government’s release today of its new Feminist International Assistance Policy, and its strong emphasis on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

The policy has identified a variety of important action areas, including human dignity, climate action, inclusive growth, inclusive governance, peace and security, and gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Canada’s feminist approach begins with gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls as the primary means to challenge poverty and inequality. This feminist approach is the only way forward, if we are to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and Save the Children’s own commitment to every last child.

Canada has decades of leadership in international assistance that focused on supporting the rights, and responding to the needs of children. Save the Children looks forward to continuing to work with the Canadian government to ensure that this leadership continues under the new Feminist International Assistance Policy.  To truly deliver on its vision for the world, and Canada’s role in international development, and to be in line with its announced increases to the military budget, we encourage Canada to double – at minimum – its international assistance spending over the next ten years.

For almost 100 years, Save the Children has been working to support the most vulnerable children, regardless of who they are, or where they live. We do whatever it takes to reach every last child, and we believe that every child has the right to a limitless future. Around the world we work every day to ensure girls and boys have a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn, and protection from harm.

Globally, today there are 65 million refugees. This means there are more people forced from their homes and on the move than at any other time in history. The impacts of climate change and conflict mean more than 45 million people are in urgent need of food assistance. The Sustainable Development Goals, and our commitment to Every Last Child mean that we must do better for all children, everywhere. We look forward to working with Global Affairs Canada to ensure that the new Feminist International Assistance Policy addresses Canada’s responsibility to reach and support the empowerment of the most vulnerable with urgently-needed assistance.  As a global rights-based organization, we are uniquely poised to partner with the government for the successful delivery and implementation of this policy.

Canada’s commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is timely, necessary, and demonstrates the importance of girls’ and women’s rights, empowerment, agency, and voice. Save the Children is pleased to see Canada’s leadership on this important issue, and looks forward to working with the government to ensure a strong and specific focus on adolescent girls. We know that change starts with children, and that gender equality cannot be achieved without the engagement of men and boys.

Canadian assistance protects and transforms the lives of girls and boys, women and men, all around the world. Children can be – and are – powerful agents of change within their communities. To transform our world into one that embodies gender equality requires their voices, and their guidance.

ENDS