Society was riddled with cracks when the pandemic started – cracks that have widened into fault lines. As COVID-19 continued to deepen social and economic inequality around the world, Canada supported a global feminist economic recovery by announcing $100 million in aid for paid and unpaid care work. The Prime Minister’s mandate letters for new ministers also included feminist commitments, such as adopting a Feminist Foreign Policy and providing new funding for Global Affairs Canada’s Women’s Voice and Leadership program. Funding for sexual and reproductive health and rights, LGBTQ+ rights and climate action is also making a difference in the lives of marginalized women and girls worldwide.
Global vaccine inequity is prolonging the pandemic and its negative economic, social, educational and health impacts on women and girls. Canada’s refusal to support a temporary waiver on intellectual property rights to allow generic manufacturers to boost global vaccine production has been heavily criticized by civil society. Canada must act now to end the vaccine apartheid. Furthermore, Canada’s international assistance levels fall far short of the long-term sustained investment needed to support countries with the devastating economic fallout from the pandemic. Increasing Canada’s feminist aid budget is an absolute must to achieve our international obligations.
