Minister Leitch will step up Canada's efforts to end child, early and forced marriage at the United Nations

NEW YORK, NY, March 11, 2014 /CNW/ - The Honourable Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, will highlight Canada's intensified efforts to end child, early and forced marriage at the 58^th meeting of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW).

The Minister is leading a Canadian delegation to New York from March 10 to 21, 2014, that will include six youth delegates, Member of Parliament for London North Centre and Parliamentary Secretary for the Status of Women - Susan Truppe, and provincial Ministers from Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. This year's United Nations meeting will focus on the challenges and achievements associated with the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for women and girls. The eight MDGs - which range from ending extreme poverty to stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education - form a blueprint for the development agenda, and have been agreed upon by all the world's countries and the entire world's leading development institutions.

The following are Canada's youth delegates, identified through the YMCA-YWCA network:

• Madilyne Kevany (Winnipeg, Manitoba);
• Jade Le Maire Morrison (Montreal, Quebec);
• Levi Nowdlak (Agvvik, Nunavut);
• Lindsey Sheridan (Toronto, Ontario);
• Evonne Tian (Toronto, Ontario); and
• Brittany Tibbo (St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador).

Quick Facts

• In 2013, Canada announced $5 million in new money to address the causes and consequences of child, early and forced marriages around the world, with the aim of ending the practice. Funds are being used initially for programs in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Ghana, Somalia, and Zimbabwe.
• Canada is committed to safeguarding the health of mothers, newborns and children around the world. The G8 Muskoka Initiative helped to raise US$7.3 billion for this cause from 2010-2015; Canada alone has contributed a total of $2.85 billion to this initiative over five years.
• Canada will co-host the following side events as part of the 58^th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women:
• Lessons Learned in Country:  How to End Child, Early and Forced Marriage, co-hosted by Malawi, Zambia and Plan International (March 10)
• Roundtable on Child, Early and Forced Marriage, co-hosted by the United Kingdom (March 13)
• Girls talk about the MDGs: Gaps, Successes and Plans to Move Forward, co-hosted by the United Nations' Working Group on Girls (March 12)
• Girls Advocacy Roundtables, co-hosted by the United Nations' Working Group on Girls (March 11)

Quote

"The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the human rights of girls around the world and our foreign policy reflects this commitment.  Evidence shows that one of the best ways to reduce poverty and increase economic well-being is to invest in women and girls. We have done just that with our efforts to end child, early and forced marriage and our maternal, newborn and child health agenda. Going forward, we will continue to put the most vulnerable citizens of our world - including women and children - at the heart of our development policy."

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

Additional Links

• Information on the 58^th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
• Information on the Millennium Development Goals
• Information on the United Nations' Working Group on Girls
• Information on Canada's efforts to improve maternal, newborn and child health

 

SOURCE: Status of Women Canada

For media inquiries only:

Barbara Mottram
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] 

For all other inquiries:

Nanci-Jean Waugh
Director General, Communications and Public Affairs
Status of Women Canada
Tel: [phone]

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