(OTTAWA) October 11, 2017 – Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada (MP, Saanich-Gulf Islands), released the following statement:
“International Day of the Girl aims to highlight and address the needs and challenges faced by the world’s 1.1 billion girls, while promoting their empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights,” Ms. May said.
“This year’s focus marks the beginning of a year-long effort to turn global attention and action to the challenges and opportunities that girls face before, during and after crises. War, conflict, food insecurity, and poor quality or denied access to education are just some of the crises that are all too common across our fragile world.
“I am pleased that Prime Minister Trudeau has committed Canada’s overseas development assistance to programs that target gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. However, it is worrisome that there is no new development assistance in this year’s budget. As a wealthy country, we can and should do more so that gender-targeted funding does not deprive other programs of Canadian assistance that they have come to rely on.
“On behalf of the Green Party of Canada, I offer my continued commitment to ensuring girls and women achieve equity in representation, pay and opportunity,” Ms. May said.
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