Canada announces support to Women’s Voice and Leadership initiative in Ukraine

Canada believes that society is more prosperous, peaceful and secure when women’s rights are respected, their voices are heard and they can exercise their leadership. Women’s rights organizations and local women’s movements in Ukraine are key agents of change in advancing Ukraine’s democratic and economic reform, strengthening the rights of women and girls, and advancing progress towards gender equality.

On the last day of her visit to Ukraine, Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development of Canada, announced up to $4.75 million in funding over five years to support a Women’s Voice and Leadership initiative in Ukraine.

The project will strengthen the capacity of local women’s organizations to promote and defend human rights and empower Ukrainian women and girls.

“Women’s rights organizations and movements have invaluable experience in driving global and national action on gender equality. Local and national advocates often have the greatest understanding of the challenges that women and girls face, and essential knowledge of how to advance their rights and bring about systemic changes. That is why Canada supports women’s organizations and movement in Ukraine and across the world in tackling gender inequality,” said Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development.

The Women’s Voice and Leadership initiative, which was launched in 2017 as part of Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, responds to the needs of local women’s organizations and movements in developing countries, which are working to advance the rights of women and girls and promote gender equality.

Canada committed to allocating $150 million over five years to the Women’s Voice and Leadership initiative to respond to the needs of local women’s organizations in developing countries that are working to advance the rights of women and girls and to promote gender equality.

Original source: GA Canada
Published on 23 July 2018