March 28, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada
The Honorable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, together with eleven other federal Cabinet ministers*, issued the following statement today:
“Gender equality is a fundamental human right. The facts are also clear: it is the foundation of a more peaceful world. When gender equality is lacking, states are almost twice as likely to be unstable and more than three times as likely to have autocratic and corrupt government. Meanwhile, peace agreements are much more likely to endure when women – in all their diversity – participate meaningfully in their negotiation.
“Today, women face an increasingly tense international security environment, including their deliberate and continued exclusion from peace negotiations, increased violence against them, the rollback of their rights and other challenges.
“This is the context in which Canada today launches Foundations for Peace, its third national action plan on the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. Building on the positive progress of recent years, while recognizing growing needs in the current geopolitical context, this six-year strategy reflects Canada’s clear understanding of the positive impacts of women’s full and meaningful participation in building global peace and security. This comprehensive action plan, the cornerstone of Canada’s feminist foreign policy, is the model for our country’s leadership on the women, peace and security agenda. It also demonstrates Canada’s commitment to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“Foundations for Peace recognizes that much has changed in our world since the launch of Canada’s previous action plan in 2017. We are seeing increases in online hate and aggression towards women and girls, including those involved in peacebuilding and the defense of human rights here at home and abroad. The world is also seeing a rise in climate emergencies, cyber threats, a growing anti-gender movement, economic insecurity, forced displacement, humanitarian crises and more, all of which disproportionately affect women and girls. Women continue to be targets of gender-based violence and are largely neglected as essential partners for peace, although they are often at the forefront of communities’ efforts to prevent and respond to these crises. Among those often neglected are indigenous women, young women, ethnic minority women, women with disabilities, and two-spirit and gender diverse people, whose collective leadership is essential to achieving sustainable peace and security for all.
“Foundations for Peace reflects the contributions of civil society, indigenous peoples and women on the front lines of conflicts around the world. We are deeply grateful to all of you for your guidance on the action plan and your dedication to advancing the women, peace and security agenda in Canada and abroad. No less than ten federal partners participated in the creation of the action plan and are responsible for executing it. We continue to work toward an intergovernmental approach, and Veterans Affairs Canada has joined as our newest partner. The action plan includes a significant domestic focus and is aligned with other national policies and plans. It also pays close attention to the intersections of complex challenges like climate change and online attacks. A new reporting and evaluation framework will also improve transparency and help demonstrate the impact of this important work.
“Around the world, despite significant and growing obstacles, women in all their diversity are bravely and effectively standing up for peace, security and a more just and prosperous world. “Canada supports them, renews its commitment and commits, through this action plan, to global leadership on this critical priority.”
*This statement is supported by:
- The Honorable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
- The Honorable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defense
- The Honorable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services
- The Honorable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development
- The Honorable Marci Ien, Minister of Women, Gender Equality and Youth
- The Honorable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs
- The Honorable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
- The Honorable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development
- The Honorable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Deputy Minister of National Defense
- The Honorable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs
- The Honorable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada