Minister Leitch promotes girls' rights on the eve of International Day of the Girl

Invites Canadians to celebrate on October 11

NEW YORK, NY, Oct. 10, 2014 /CNW/ - The Honourable Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, today affirmed Canada's commitment to protecting and defending girls' rights at a United Nations event to mark International Day of the Girl.

While at the United Nations, Minister Leitch addressed the Girls Speak Out panel discussion and was accompanied by a small delegation of young Canadian women leaders. In keeping with this year's theme for International Day of the Girl, "Empowering Adolescent Girls: Ending the Cycle of Violence," Minister Leitch spoke about Canada's commitment to preventing violence against girls and young women.

In particular, the Minister highlighted the actions the Government of Canada has taken to end the barbaric practice of child, early and forced marriage around the world, including the investment of an additional $20 million over two years for a UNICEF project to accelerate the movement to end child marriage in six countries. The Minister also highlighted Canada's global leadership role in maternal, newborn and child health, and efforts to help ensure that maternal, newborn and child health remains a top global development priority. Prime Minister Harper hosted the Saving Every Woman, Every Child: Within Arm's Reach Summit in Toronto from May 2014. At the Summit, the Prime Minister announced Canada's commitment of $3.5 billion to improve the health of mothers and children for the period of 2015–2020, supporting global efforts to end the preventable deaths of mothers, newborn and children younger than the age of five.

The Minister was joined at the event by three young women from Canada: Brittany Tibbo, Vice Chairperson of the YWCA St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador; Madilyne Kevany, representing the YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg, Manitoba; and Rory Flynn, who has worked with the Red Cross in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Quick Facts

• Since 2009, the Government of Canada has provided more than $18 million through Status of Women Canada for community-based projects focused on girls.
• Since 2007, the Government of Canada has provided more than $70 million through Status of Women Canada for projects to end violence against women and girls in Canada.
• The International Day of the Girl, which takes place on October 11, promotes equal treatment and opportunities for girls in areas such as law, nutrition, health care, education, training, and freedom from violence and abuse.
• The Minister highlighted many ways that Canadians can participate in this year's International Day of the Girl across Canada and online. Canadians are encouraged to attend events in their communities, schools and workplaces. Teachers are invited to make use of the Educators Toolkit about International Day of the Girl available at women.gc.ca.
• Canadians can mark International Day of the Girl by sharing their actions on social media using the #dayofthegirl and #StrongGirls hashtags.

Quotes

"On International Day of the Girl we recognize and are inspired by the important contributions that girls are making to our communities and our economy  - contributions that will only grow over time. This day is also an opportunity to advocate for girls around the world who face serious challenges in their daily lives – such as hunger, poverty and limited access to education. By investing in girls, we invest in our future."

"It is also fitting that today we learned that Malala Yousafzai will receive the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. The world has taken notice of the incredible power a girl like Malala can have on her country and on the rights of girls around the world. Against incredible odds she has shown courage and determination in the face of constant threats of violence. She has raised awareness about girls' education and will continue to pave the way and inspire girls around the globe."

The Honourable Dr. K. Kellie Leitch
Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women  

Related Products

• Canada announces additional support to end child, early and forced marriage

Additional Links

• Information on child, early and forced marriage
• Information on International Day of the Girl
• Facts about girls in Canada and around the world
• Information about Women's History Month

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SOURCE: Status of Women Canada

For media inquiries only: Andrew McGrath, Director of Communications, Office of the Hon. Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, P.C., O.Ont., M.P., Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, Tel: [phone], [email protected]; For all other inquiries: Nanci-Jean Waugh, Director General, Communications and Public Affairs, Status of Women Canada, Tel: [phone]