(No. 324 – October 5, 2010 – 6:45 p.m. ET) The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced Canada’s Action Plan for the Implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) on Women, Peace and Security.
“I am proud to launch Canada’s action plan today,” said Minister Cannon. “Canada has long advocated the need to ensure that the rights and well-being of women and girls are integrated into peace processes and other responses to armed conflict.”
“For Canadians, violence against women and girls is unquestionably unacceptable. Our government is proud to support and implement meaningful measures such as this action plan to improve safety and justice for women and girls around the world who are affected by violence,” said the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women.
The action plan responds to a series of UNSCRs on the subject of women, peace and security. Collectively, these resolutions confirm the need to account for equality between women and men in all stages of conflict prevention and resolution. They are key to the development of stable countries built on a foundation of human rights and the rule of law.
“Our action plan will guide the way Canada develops policy, how we select, train and deploy Canadian personnel, and how we ensure they have the right knowledge and guidance for implementing Canadian policies effectively in the field,” said Minister Cannon. “It will steer Canada’s interventions abroad so they encourage the participation of women and girls, promote their rights and advance their equal access to humanitarian and development assistance.”
UN member states were urged by the Security Council to develop action plans for implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1325, adopted in 2000. This resolution was the first Security Council resolution to deal exclusively with women in situations of armed conflict. To date 20 countries, including Canada, have announced national action plans.
