April 10, 2019 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada
Canada strongly believes the greater participation by women in peacekeeping will pave the way for a more enduring peace.
On behalf of the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Consular Affairs), will attend a meeting of the Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network in Windhoek, Namibia, on April 10 and 11, 2019.
At the network meeting, the Parliamentary Secretary will highlight Canada's leadership in advancing the Women, Peace and security (WPS) agenda with other countries and key stakeholders, including the launch last month of the Elsie Initiative Fund for Uniformed Women in Peace Operations. Discussions will prioritise the views of women peacebuilders, including best practices to implement all UN Security Council resolutions on WPS.
Prior to this meeting in Namibia, the Parliamentary Secretary also travelled to Ethiopia on April 8, 2019 to pay tribute to the victims of the Ethiopian Airlines plane crash on March 10, 2019. PS Goldsmith-Jones met with Ethiopian officials, Canadian officials involved in the consular response, and RCMP specialized personnel deployed to provide disaster victim identification support.
"Women have an essential role to play in finding solutions to the political, economic and social challenges facing the world today. The Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network is a hugely important forum for Canada to engage on issues related to women, peace and security, and I am pleased that Canada continues to play a leadership role with the Elsie Iniative."
- Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Consular Affairs)
Quick facts
-
In 2019, Namibia is the chair of The Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network, which is an international forum of more than 80 member states and regional organizations collaborating closely with UN agencies and civil society to implement the women, peace and security (WPS) agenda.
-
UN Security Council resolution 1325 was adopted in 2000 and, along with seven subsequent resolutions, defines the international women, peace and security agenda. This ambitious agenda centers on promoting gender equality and strengthening women's participation, protection and rights.
-
Canada's implementation of the WPS agenda is primarily through Canada's second National Action Plan for the Implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security 2017-2022.
