VANCOUVER, B.C., June 4, 2019 – Save the Children welcomes the Government of Canada’s historic investment to advance the health and rights of women, adolescents, girls and boys around the globe, starting in 2020 and scaling up to $1.4 billion annually until 2030. Today’s significant funding will support sexual reproductive health and rights of women and girls – with a welcome focus on adolescent girls, while continuing Canada’s longstanding leadership on child and newborn protection and survival.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement today at Women Deliver 2019, the world’s largest conference on gender equality, taking place in Vancouver, B.C., this week. The ground-breaking commitment from Canada comes with a purposeful approach that addresses critical gaps in the health needs of women and adolescents, and takes a lifecycle approach to ensuring access to services.
Marlen Mondaca, Save the Children Canada Chief Programs Policy Officer, said:
“Today’s announcement is a win for everyone in the sector who have been advocating for continued funding to advance gender equality and improve health outcomes around the world. Every girl has the right to sexual and reproductive health, and every child has the right to survival. This commitment will save lives and help ensure informed choices for women and girls over many years to come.
“We are in a critical time where we are seeing rollbacks on women’s and girls’ health rights around the globe. If we don’t make sexual and reproductive health a priority, we risk failing on Global Goal 5 to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls by 2030. Now, more than ever, we need global leaders like Canada to promote health equity for girls and women, including in times of crisis and conflict, where needs are particularly acute.”
Save the Children Canada has been working in partnership with Canada’s leading global health organizations over the past year to develop the Thrive Agenda, the basis for this momentous investment.
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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.