Mesures prises:
Canada’s international assistance has continued to provide robust support for global sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) around the world, funding a diverse set of multi-year and stand-alone initiatives, multilateral and NGO partners, and strengthening comprehensive SRHR in both in low- and middle-income countries and humanitarian settings.
Canada has committed significant resources to enhancing access to sexual and reproductive health services for women and girls, and over the reporting period, made multi-year commitments to ensure predictable and long-term funding for SRHR. As part of its Feminist International Assistance Policy, in 2019, Canada launched a 10-year commitment to advance the health and rights of women and girls around the world. As part of this commitment, Canada has raised its global health funding to an average of $1.4 billion each year from 2023-24, of which $700 million is dedicated to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights, with a focus on neglected or under-funded areas of SRHR. The five neglected areas are: safe abortion and post-abortion care; comprehensive sexuality education; family planning and contraception; SRHR advocacy and reform; and the prevention of and response to sexual and gender-based violence. These investments have included:
- $15 million to the UNFPA Supplies Partnerships, the world’s largest provider of donated contraceptives and supports strengthening health systems to deliver reproductive health commodities. In 2023, contraceptives provided by the UNFPA Supplies partnership contributed to the prevention of an estimated 9.5 million unintended pregnancies, 200, 000 maternal and child deaths and 2.9 million unsafe abortions amongst hard-to reach women and adolescent girls in 54 countries.
- $10.5 million in support of the Rights from the Start Project led by Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights (2020-24), strengthening the ability of key in-country partners to engage in government consultations on SRHR policies and programs to bring about change in Bolivia, Ecuador, Guyana and Peru.
- $13.06 million to Oxfam Canada’s Sexual Health and Empowerment project, which has helped reduce the stigma associated with sexual health and contraceptive use in six conflict-affected and underserved areas of the Philippines.
- $8.8 million towards UNICEF’s Empowering Adolescents to Prevent Unwanted Pregnancies, HIV and Violence project, which has succeeded in having a comprehensive sexuality education course introduced into Bolivia’s national education curriculum and approved by the Ministry of Education.
Canada has also strongly supported the delivery of SRHR in humanitarian crises, working to reach those most vulnerable with vital sexual and reproductive health services. Working through a variety of experienced humanitarian partners, Canada’s assistance has improved access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services in emergencies, in particular for women and girls.
- In 2023, Canada provided UNFPA with $10 million to deliver vital assistance in 13 humanitarian contexts ($8 million) and reinforce its ability to respond globally in emergencies through its Humanitarian Thematic Fund ($2 million.)
- Throughout the reporting period, Canada maintained a strong commitment to the Syrian regional humanitarian response, supporting the provision of health services, including SRH for displaced Syrians and vulnerable local populations across Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. This included projects through Tearfund ($4.5 million, 2020-21), International Medical Corps ($7.5 million 2021-22; $5.5 million 2022-23) and International Rescue Committee ($4.5 million in 2023.)
- In 2023, Canada also supported INTERSOS with $1 million, to deliver life-saving protection and health services including SRH, for migrants, refugees, and other vulnerable local populations in Venezuela and Colombia.
Finally, humanitarian projects funded by Canada have also helped to strengthen national health systems in the delivery of high quality and inclusive SRH services, with particular regard for sexual and reproductive health, emergency obstetrical services, neonatal health, contraception, abortion, post-abortion care, and the treatment of sexually transmitted infections.
- In 2021, Canada supported the International Rescue Committee (IRC) with $10 million across six countries facing humanitarian crisis (Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Pakistan and South Sudan.) The project included training for care providers on women’s empowerment and worked to increase the number of women-led organizations delivering SRHR programming.
- In 2021, Canada also supported INTERSOS with $1.5 million to provide emergency health and protection services to refugees and vulnerable Lebanese. Supporting this outcome, the project also provided technical assistance training on SRHR to national health and protection workers, as well as community health volunteers.
