November 25, 2018 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development, today issued the following statement on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which marks the first day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence:

"It is a tragedy that one in three women and girls will experience violence at some point in their lives.

"Gender-based violence occurs in every country, across the lines of culture and socio-economic status, in homes, at schools, on the streets, on the Internet and at work. Too often, it is normalized, and the consequences for victims, their families and communities are devastating, as survivors of gender-based violence can be stigmatized or marginalized.

"Canada condemns all forms of gender-based violence against women, girls and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, two-spirit and gender non-binary people everywhere. This can include child, early and forced marriage; female genital mutilation and cutting; and sexual violence and exploitation, including in conflict and in digital contexts.

"Through its feminist foreign policy and its Feminist International Assistance Policy, Canada is committed to strengthening the participation of women in peace processes, supporting the investigation of sexual and gender-based crimes, building sustainable and inclusive peace and advancing women's empowerment and gender equality in developing countries. Canada's work to meet these commitments highlights the powerful role that women's organizations can play at a grassroots level in the stabilization of their communities and countries.

"When their fundamental human rights are respected, women and girls—indeed, everyone in society—can transform the world for the better."