2012:03PU Overseas Development Assistance for Sexual and Reproductive Health Services
Whereas 1 NCWC Policy 95.2 urged the Government of Canada to:
a. Mobilize resources to guarantee reproductive rights for women in Canada and work with other countries to ensure the same rights for women everywhere, including access to reliable information, quality healthcare services, and family planning aids.
b. Concentrate on Overseas Development Aid, where applicable, on programs involving the participation of women in receiving countries, aimed at improving women’s political, social, and health status.
c. Urge the United Nations (UN) to provide regular reviews of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Plan of Action.
Whereas 2 Canada is committed to its role in reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), including:
- Goal 5: Reduce maternal mortality by three-quarters
- Goal 4: Reduce under-five mortality by two-thirds from their current rates by 2015.
Whereas 3 At the 2010 G8 meeting in Muskoka, the Government of Canada launched the Muskoka Initiative, an integrated approach to accelerate the progress of MDGs 4 and 5, providing antenatal care, attended childbirth, postpartum care, sexual and reproductive services, and voluntary family planning. However, some government departments cut or eliminated funding to Canadian and international partners offering reproductive health services abroad (even though such services are publicly funded for Canadian women).
Whereas 4 215 million women worldwide lack affordable and reliable contraception, many of whom live in Africa, where the HIV virus affects women more than men. Expanding contraception access would make a significant difference in saving women’s and children’s lives.
Whereas 5 In 2005, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade urged Canada to increase its AID budget to 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) by 2015. However, OECD figures for 2010 showed that CIDA’s disbursement for Official Development Assistance was only 0.33% of GNP.
Resolved 1
The National Council of Women of Canada adopts as policy support for the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly those related to maternal mortality and under-five mortality, which depend on the adequate funding of sexual and reproductive health services for women, with a Canadian Official Development Assistance budget to help achieve these goals by 2015.
Resolved 2
The National Council of Women of Canada urges the Government of Canada to:
a. Increase its budget for Official Development Assistance to reach 0.5% of GNP by 2015 and continue increasing it to 0.7%.
b. Within the Official Development Assistance budget, increase the funding for sexual and reproductive health services by 30% by 2015.
Resolved 3
The National Council of Women of Canada urges the Government of Canada to:
- Restore and increase funding through Canadian International Development Assistance for Canadian and international partners in sexual and reproductive health programs.
- Ensure these programs align with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.