UNICEF Canada welcomes historic federal government's global commitment to health care for women and children

Vancouver, 4 June 2019 – UNICEF Canada warmly applauds the Government of Canada’s decision to increase its commitment to support the health of women, adolescents, children and newborns around the world over the next 10 years. This significant announcement, made today at the international Women Deliver 2019 conference, supports the Thrive Agenda – an advocacy initiative spear-headed by a diverse group of organizations, including UNICEF Canada, calling on Canada to take a stronger leadership role in promoting the health and rights of the world's most marginalized people.  

“This decision is an opportunity for Canada to champion the rights of the millions of women and children who struggle every day for even the most basic health care support," said Rowena Pinto, Chief Program Officer at UNICEF Canada. "World leaders must understand that providing girls with access to quality health care starting from birth is essential to achieving gender equality.”

UNICEF Canada is proud to be part of the diverse group of civil society actors who have been pressing the federal government to support the Thrive agenda. It calls for a comprehensive and integrated approach to health and rights that places the woman, adolescent, child and newborn at the center and unlocks their access to the full spectrum of interventions that are needed throughout their lifecycle to reach their full potential.

Today's announcement shows that the federal government understands that Canadians believe in promoting the rights of women and children, including their right to quality health care. Earlier this year, more than a thousand Canadians joined UNICEF Canada’s Every Child Alive campaign that calls on Ottawa to do more to end the preventable deaths of 7,000 newborns each day.

“We are pleased to see Canada continue to champion the rights of every child to survive as part of this integrated approach, and look forward to seeing part of this significant investment will go towards preventing the 7,000 newborns deaths that occur every day.”

Addressing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) is essential to reach gender equality 

UNICEF Canada is pleased to see Canada’s feminist agenda going from words to action with a renewed investment towards SRHR. Through its work in various regions of the world, UNICEF has long supported SRHR programs in maternal health and nutrition; menstrual health and hygiene management; HIV prevention, care and support; adolescent girls’ health and well-being; and by promoting positive social and gender norms and addressing gender based violence.