Canadian minister in scandal-roiled DC: abuse of women a top international issue
WASHINGTON — In a U.S. capital roiled by debates about the abuse of women, a visiting Canadian cabinet minister spoke about women’s issues in a broader global context Thursday, calling pervasive mistreatment a key impediment to human development.
International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau told a conference why female empowerment is at the centre of Canada’s international agenda. Gender equality will be Canada’s focus when hosting the G7 next year, as they are central to the Liberal government’s development-assistance programs.
Part of that includes a three-year plan to spend $650 million on reproductive health issues ranging from contraceptives, to HIV prevention, to access to abortions.
In a speech to the Center for Global Development, Bibeau said women’s needs are under-recognized in traditional development planning, and it’s impossible to achieve development in places where women are marginalized.