Canadian International Development Minister Bibeau, has just announced Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy.
We are excited to see that gender equality and the promotion of girls and women’s rights are at the core of the policy. Female genital cutting is referenced in two action areas, under gender equality (the core focus) and human dignity:
‘To better support gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in developing countries, Canada will…address the unacceptably high rates of sexual and gender-based violence experienced by women and girls. This will include support … so that fewer women and girls are subjected to …child marriages, forced marriages and female genital mutilation/cutting.’
Under this action, Minister Bibeau announced a new investment of $150 CAD million over five years ‘to support local organisations that advance women’s rights in developing countries.’
The Canadian Government also recommitted to ‘$650 CAD million over three years, with programs to be delivered by experienced partners from Canada, recipient developing countries and global organisations.’
We’ll now be trying to find out more about what this means in reality in terms of the balance between leadership, policy and crucially, resources that are dedicated to ending FGC – and we will be making the case for the Canadian government and civil society to ensure that this happens.
To read the full policy, click here.
Find out more about Orchid’s work in Canada here.
