The week of February 15th, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development will be voting on the following motion:
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development undertake a study on Women, Peace and Security; including an examination of the efforts of the Government of Canada to implement and support the United Nations Security Council Resolutions on women, peace and security (including UNSCR 1325 and 1889 on the participation of women in peace processes; UNSCR 1820, 1888 and 1960 on sexual violence in conflict; and UNSCR 2122 on women’s leadership in conflict resolution and peacebuilding); and report its findings back to the House.
The motion was moved by Hélène Laverdière.
We urge all members of the committee to support this motion.
If you would like to write to the committee members (a list is available here), here is the text of the message the WPSN-C Steering Committee sent to the Committee chair.
Dear Honourable Robert D. Nault, Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development,
We’re writing to urge you to support the motion to have the Foreign Affairs and International Development Committee undertake a study of the efforts of the Government of Canada to implement and support the United Nations Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security: 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2008), 1889 (2009), 1960 (2010), 2106 (2013), 2122 (2013), and 2242 (2015).
Why?
First, there is a growing field of research that documents that peace agreements are more sustainable when women are involved. Given the number of armed conflicts today and the resulting human suffering, we urgently need to identify and implement more effective peacebuilding initiatives. The focus in the WPS agenda on supporting women’s involvement in conflict resolution and peacebuilding is one promising way forward.
Second, there is widespread global recognition that while there is a robust normative framework on women, peace and security issues, implementation has lagged behind. Canada is well-placed to play a significant role in strengthening the effectiveness of this global agenda.
Third, greater Canadian engagement on the women, peace and security agenda is fully consistent with the government’s aim to reenergize Canadian diplomacy and leadership on key international issues and in multilateral institutions (including increasing Canada’s support for United Nations peace operations and its mediation, conflict-prevention and post-conflict reconstruction efforts). It also links this important agenda with Canada’s growing international image as a country committed to greater gender equality.
Canada was a member of the United Nations Security Council when the first women, peace and security resolution was adopted. It is time, once again, for Canada to lead on this global priority.
If you have any questions, we would be delighted to discuss the issue further with you.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Sincerely,
The Steering Committee of the Women, Peace and Security Network-Canada (Selma Djukic, Julie Lafrenière, Marilou McPhedran, Jo Rodrigues, Diana Sarosi, Kristine St-Pierre, & Beth Woroniuk)
The Women, Peace and Security Network-Canada is a volunteer network of organizations and individuals committed to: 1) Promoting and monitoring the efforts of the Government of Canada to implement and support the United Nation Security Council Resolutions on women, peace and security; and, 2) Providing a forum for exchange and action by Canadian civil society on issues related to women, peace and security.
You can also tweet at the Committee members. The abbreviation for the Committee is #FAAE and their Twitter handles are:
Robert Nault: @BobNaultMP
Dean Allison: @DeanAllisonMP
Tony Clement: @TonyclementCPC
Peter Fragiskatos: @pfragiskatos
Peter Kent: @KentThornhillMP
Michael Levitt: @LevittMichael
Marc Miller: @MarcMillerVM
Raj Saini: @RajSainiMP
Jati Sidhu: @JatiSidhuMP
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