Choul is 8 years old and has been displaced for the last 2 years."We are safe here, and to me, peace means safety."
(August 26, 2016) –
MISSISSAUGA, ON- World Vision Canada welcomes today's announcement by the Government of Canada to $430m over three years to UN peace operations and commit up to 600 military and up to 150 police personnel.
Given the unprecedented number of conflicts and humanitarian crises, this is an important step towards constructive engagement with the United Nations.
Canada can provide the much needed specialized expertise to UN's efforts. Canada currently ranks 67th in the United Nations' ranking of troop and police contributors with 88 police and 15 military personnel. Today's announcement improves Canada's ranking and brings us closer to our allies' contributions. This is a real opportunity for Canada to return to its role as a peace keeper and make life-saving contributions to the protection of the world's most vulnerable, especially children.
WORLD VISION'S RECOMMENDATIONS TO GOVERNMENT OF CANADA:
- Prioritize greater accountability in the protection of civilians during UN peace operations by ensuring that deploying personnel receive specialized training on gender equality, child protection, and sexual exploitation and abuse.
- Ensure that neither Canadian military nor police personnel are directly involved in the provision of humanitarian assistance.
- Make a deliberate effort to deploy as many female troops and police officers as possible, including in commanding roles.
- Ensure Canada's contributions to peace operations are a part of longer-term, integrated regional strategies that make sustainable contributions to peace by establishing a cross-departmental task force, lead by civilian staff.
- Coordinate with humanitarian partners to ensure that objectives are defined in ways that preserve the neutrality and independence of humanitarian partners.
- Allow Parliament to debate and vote on the specific missions where Canada will contribute military and police personnel
QUOTES
Martin Fischer, Director of Policy for World Vision Canada
"UN peace operations are not immune to abuse scandals. We have heard of children and women being abused by UN peacekeepers sent to protect them. As a champion of women's and children's rights, Canada can show the way by making sure our troops and police are trained to the highest standards."
Michael Messenger, President of World Vision Canada:
"UN peace operations need more Canada. Children who are being denied a childhood in South Sudan, Haiti, Mali, the Central African Republic need more Canada. Canada's return to UN peace operations is a concrete way for the government to show what it means to be back – to provide much needed capacities and financial support to UN peace operations."