FAAE Committee Report

Supplementary report to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development study on sexual and reproductive rights around the world

The Bloc Québécois respectfully submits a supplementary opinion to the report of the Foreign Affairs and International Development Committee concerning the study on sexual and reproductive rights around the world. This long-awaited study has highlighted the very important work that remains to be done if Canada is to move from words to deeds when it comes to its feminist foreign policy.

Firstly, it was surprising to hear from witnesses that almost 7 years after its announcement, Canada's feminist foreign policy is still not defined through a document that details principles, objectives and implementation guidelines. This may potentially explain why sharing results in this area seems difficult for Global Affairs Canada. So, on the one hand, we have GAC announcing during the study that "Canada is making significant progress in meeting its existing commitments[1]". On the other hand, we have the Auditor General's assertion that Canada's feminist international aid policy includes commitments describing how the funds are to be spent, "we found that Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy included commitments on how funding should be spent but had no goals related to specific improvements in the circumstances of those who benefit from the funding[2]".

So there's a lot to think about when it comes to the development of international feminist policy by Global Affairs, from objectives to results, and how Quebec and Canadian taxpayers' money is actually being used to advance women's rights and gender equality around the world.

Secondly, Africa is an area where the issue of sexual rights is debated, as we heard from several witnesses who discussed cultural differences, and the need for Canada to work in this part of the world. One statistic sums up the problems associated with reproductive rights: sub-Saharan Africa accounted for some 70% of maternal deaths in 2020[3]. Canada has a duty to support countries seeking to make progress in terms of abortion rights and access to quality health care – COVID-19 having imposed, in some countries, additional difficulties in accessing health care, particularly in terms of distance[4].

At a time when the government is developing an "African plan", it is vital that international development, gender equality and access to healthcare services are key pillars of this strategy.

Also, while some committee members denounced, during committee meetings[5] denounced certain laws in certain countries that run counter to people's fundamental rights with regard to their sexuality. While Ms. Théroux-Séguin of the Centre d'étude et de coopération internationale, in her testimony, expressed the hope that Canada could support legislative measures, and promote recommendations aimed at improving sexual and reproductive health. We therefore hope that the Canadian government, through a statement or in international forums, will take the lead in welcoming the development of projects that provide greater access to abortion and reproductive health services around the world[6]. While interfering in the national policy processes of other countries is out of the question, Canada must nonetheless be vocal and offer assistance to countries that request it, to enable the development of essential reproductive health care services.

Thirdly, funding is a central issue, and several witnesses, including Oxfam-Québec, Oxfam-Canada and Action Canada, raised concerns about the government's commitment to devote $700 million a year to support sexual and reproductive health and rights, with a particular focus on four neglected areas: family planning and contraception; safe and legal abortion services and post-abortion care; comprehensive sexuality education; and sexual and reproductive health and rights promotion activities. These four issues received $104 million of the total funding of $489 million for the same year[7].

If the committee's report correctly recommends the need for the government to meet its commitment to invest at least $700 million in women's sexual and reproductive health and rights globally by the end of fiscal 2023-2024, we ask that the government significantly increase its funding in the four neglected topics.

Fourthly, we heard the poignant testimony of Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko[8], who spoke of the Russian army's use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. A barbarity without a name that must lead to the criminalization of the perpetrators. This committee has already recommended to the government, in its report on the situation in Ukraine, that it "work with Ukraine and other international partners to prosecute those most responsible for Russia's crime of aggression against Ukraine by supporting the creation of a special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine or other similar mechanism". In the quest for justice, sexual violence cannot be ignored when condemning Russia. And unfortunately, such situations are commonplace, since as the Canadian Partnership for Children's and Women's Health points out, "Women and girls continue to bear the brunt of the consequences of forced displacement, particularly in conflict zones where they face soaring levels of sexual violence[9]".

We therefore expect that in the next National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, the Government of Canada will increase its funding for programs enabling girls and women who are victims of sexual violence in conflict zones to obtain the justice they deserve.

In conclusion, the Canadian government needs to update its feminist foreign policy. COVID-19, multiple conflicts and natural disasters caused by climate change are factors that are rewriting the world order and priorities of the day. Canada, as a G7 country, must assume its position and move from words to deeds.