TORONTO, July 26, 2023 – Save the Children welcomes the appointment today by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of the Honourable Ahmed Hussen as Minister of International Development.
Minister Hussen’s experience with children, families, and refugees, along with his expertise in human rights and his previous leadership positions, provide a strong foundation as he takes on this new position and we are confident that they will serve him well as he seeks to advance Canada’s international development portfolio.
We look forward to engaging with Minister Hussen during this critical time for child rights where the four Cs—climate, conflict, COVID and cost—are putting children at risk in unprecedented ways across the globe. Additionally, we look forward to connecting with Minister Hussen about Canada’s continued leadership on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular emphasis on investing in the rights of children and investing in programs in fragile contexts that advance development goals.
Today, a hunger crisis is spanning dozens of countries and putting millions of children’s lives at risk while escalating climate-driven humanitarian emergencies and conflicts in many contexts that are putting children in the crosshairs of violence. There could not be a more critical time for Canada’s global leadership in addressing the realization of all children’s rights to survival, health, education, equality and protection.
Minister Hussen has the opportunity to further leverage Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy as a global standard to push for gender equality. The world is critically off track to achieve gender equality by 2030 as both COVID and the backlash against women’s reproductive health and rights has resulted in lost gains. The world’s most vulnerable women and girls are at great risk for sexual and gender based violence, including child marriage and women’s decision-making power remains low. Canada’s partnership with governments, civil society, and communities through transformative programs is critical.
As he moves into this role, Save the Children looks forward to inviting Minister Hussen to visit our Global Affairs Canada-funded programs that are changing lives, empowering communities, and partnering with children to realize their rights.
We give great thanks to Minister Harjit Sajjan for his leadership over the last two years and for his prioritization of children, hunger and particularly the advancement of girls and women. Even as recently as last week at Women Deliver in Rwanda, Minister Sajjan spoke powerfully, illustrating Canada’s progressive position on gender equality in spite of global erosion on key rights issues like abortion and other neglected areas of sexual and reproductive health and rights. Over his time as the Minister of International Development, we appreciated Minister Sajjan’s interest in the impact of Save the Children’s programs when visiting our work focused on child rights outside of Canada.
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Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In Canada and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.