Oxfam Canada comments ahead of North American Leader’s Summit

As Ottawa prepares to host the North American Leader’s Summit on Wednesday, June 29th, Oxfam Canada’s Director of Policy and Campaigns, Lauren Ravon, said:

“Oxfam is pleased to see the importance Prime Minister Trudeau is placing on dialogue and collaboration with our neighbors. As North Americans we share not only borders, but many common values and aspirations.”

“This summit is one of the first major opportunities for Prime Minister Trudeau to put his vision of a feminist foreign policy into practice.  The human rights crisis in Mexico, and in particular the alarming rate of feminicide, should be top of mind as he heads into his meetings with Presidents Obama and Pena Nieto tomorrow. The staggering rates of forced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, torture, and sexual violence against female detainees in Mexico are cause for great concern for all North Americans.”

Ravon added that: “Just as Prime Minister Trudeau has shown leadership in recognizing and addressing the tragedy of missing and murdered indigenous women that continues to plague our country, he should be raising the issue of systematic violence against women with his Mexican counterpart.”

“A feminist foreign policy must go beyond words. It can mean seizing diplomatic opportunities to promote women’s rights and ensure their concerns are voiced. The stories of gross human rights abuses being told by the courageous Mexican women who came to Ottawa last week with Amnesty International, Carleton University, and the Nobel Women’s Initiative, is a reminder that Canada needs to stand by the valiant women’s rights organizations who put their lives on the line every day – in Mexico and in countries around the globe. As part of its international assistance review, Canada should commit to ensuring that more Canadian aid reaches women’s organizations in the Global South.”

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For more information and interview requests:

Melanie Gallant, Media Relations
Oxfam Canada
613-240-3047