I'd like to begin by acknowledging that I'm speaking from the traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg people.
I had hoped we could be together in person for this, the handover of the Chair Position for the Women, Peace, and Security Chiefs of Defence Network, but, as with so many other milestone events of the past two years, COVID-19 is forcing us to meet remotely.
The pandemic has interfered with activities of all sorts since early 2020, including the work of the Women, Peace, and Security Chiefs of Defence Network.
But it has not blunted our collective resolve to see our important work continue and succeed.
Holding the chair of this organization for the past two and a half years has been a great honour for our country, for our armed forces, and for me personally.
It's impossible to understate the importance of advancing the meaningful participation of women in peace and security operations.
Because first, and most importantly, women have a fundamental right to equal participation in peace and security activities - and to participation in the decision-making that governs those activities. Facilitating this is simply the right thing to do.
And second, because everyone benefits from this increased participation -those who serve, and the people we're serving. This is because a more inclusive approach to peacekeeping leads to more effective peacekeeping.
Seeking diverse perspectives in the decision-making process leads to better, more thoughtful, more effective decisions.
And the on-the-ground relationships that are so vital to operational effectiveness are strengthened when peacekeepers reflect and relate to the populations they're working with.
Our ability to interact meaningfully with local populations is enhanced.
As we all know, the challenges of WPS initiatives are real.
But the rewards for success are immense.
Unless we draw on the full range of talent and perspectives available to us, we are not as effective as we can be - as we must be.
As Canadians, we're quite proud of this organization.
The Women, Peace, and Security Chiefs of Defence Network was founded here in Canada, on the margins of the 2017 United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial in Vancouver.
And its work builds on other Canadian initiatives such as the Elsie Initiative, launched in 2017 at that same ministerial, to identify and address barriers to women's participation in peace operations.
This is a priority for Canada, and for the Canadian Armed Forces in particular.
At that 2017 meeting Canada made some important promises, which included:
- Increasing the percentage of women in the armed forces to 25% in 10 years;
- Applying Gender-Based Analysis Plus processes to all aspects of our operations;
- And championing the Dallaire Initiative on preventing and addressing the use of child soldiers in conflict, along with the Vancouver Principles.
During our time as chair, we've made some real progress.
In 2019, a Gender Aide-mémoire was published to help all armed forces members integrate GBA+ into operations - ensuring that all our members were clear on our commitment to GBA+, and making it a command responsibility for those in charge. At the same time, our Department of National Defence created a new organization, the Directorate for Gender Equality and Intersectional Analysis.
That same year we established the Dallaire Centre for Excellence for Peace and Security as an element of Canada's military college system, to build on the Dallaire Initiative.
Canada established the Elsie Initiative Fund to advance the aims of the Elsie Initiative by supporting and encouraging the deployment of women in peace operations.
Women have always demonstrated leadership, have always worked hard to show us they belong. Now, women appointed to senior leadership positions within our armed forces and Department of National Defence are more prevalent than ever before.
So we are moving beyond the "Firsts" of women breaking glass ceilings in our armed forces, and starting to move toward the "Nexts."
We are welcoming future generations and showing them that the Defence Team is a place where anyone who wants to don the uniform or join the department is welcome to do so as who they are, and will be valued for their contributions.
When Canada assumed the chair of this network, we inherited a fledgling organization that had benefited from skillful and steady hands on the wheel during its first two years, and I'd like to thank our British colleagues for their early leadership.
On their watch, they created the networks' first Terms of Reference, and developed its website to make it easier for all of us to inspire each other with actionable ideas and best practices.
During our time at the helm, we've been able to build on those early successes.
We've overseen the development of those Terms of Reference into a formal Charter for the organization.
We've formalized the Network's executive, and bolstered its strength by naming our Women in Peace and Security Champion, MGen Lise Bourgon, the Woman Advisor to the Network.
We've created a comprehensive training program in WPS aimed at junior officers and NCMs.
We hosted the inaugural Five Eyes Plus conference in 2017, where our Five Eyes allies and five other countries had the opportunity to share best practices on integrating gender perspectives into our operations.
On our watch the organization's membership has grown from 39 members to 56. And still our Defence Attachés around the world are working to encourage more and more countries to sign on.
I'd like to offer my sincere thanks to our fellow executive members: Bangladesh, Jamaica, Sweden, Ireland, and the UK, in an ex-officio role, for their support during our time as chair.
We're proud of the achievements that occurred during our tenure, and know this record of success will continue with our colleagues from Bangladesh, who have taken over with energy and enthusiasm.
We wish you well, and please know that you have our full support. I look forward to watching this organization, and its great mission, continue to grow and thrive in the years to come.
