ICAD Applauds Canada For its Renewed Commitment and Global Leadership Ushering in a Bold New Era Where Gender Equality is at the Centre of its Global Health Agenda
For immediate release
4 June 2019 (Vancouver, B.C.) – In a show of historic commitment to advancing the health and rights of women and girls, global health and development, Canada has announced a 10-year investment of $1.4 billion annually, of which $700 million/annually will be directed towards sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). This investment will succeed Canada’s current commitment to maternal and newborn child health and nutrition in 2023. The announcement came as the world gathers for Women Deliver 2019, hosted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Vancouver, B.C. from 3-6 June.
“Driven by Canada’s leadership, the next era of Canadian support will help to move the needle and deepen our impact through tackling persistent gaps in sexual and reproductive health and rights programming and fighting the world’s leading global public health threats, including HIV, tuberculosis and malaria,” said Robin Montgomery, Executive Director of the Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development (ICAD).
“The new funding will not only allow Canada to continue its important work, but also reaffirms the government’s commitment to meeting the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, while supporting the right to health for the world’s most vulnerable people.”
Months of extraordinary efforts by a diverse coalition of Canada’s leading global health organizations to develop the THRIVE Agenda came to fruition at Women Deliver with this exciting and historic announcement. ICAD is proud to have been part of this incredible sector partnership and is committed to working with the government and civil society partners to ensure our collective vision for an integrated and comprehensive approach to gender equality and improved health and well-being for women and girls in our global community.
“This is the type of leadership that we have come to expect from Canada,” said Robin Montgomery. “We call on the Trudeau government to continue its leadership on the global stage to encourage other governments to take similar bold steps. The successful 6th Replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria is a crucial opportunity for the world to further advance the health and rights of women, adolescents and children and global health and development.”
Contact:
Kate Alexander
Senior Program and Membership Officer
Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development (ICAD)
Tel: 613-233-7440 ext. 110
Email: kalexander@icad-cisd.com
