Canada Launches its Second National Action Plan for the Period of 2017-2022

By Anwar Mhajne, United Nations Monitor

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The flag of Canada (centre) flying at United Nations headquarters in New York (UN Photo/Loey Felipe)

Canada launched its second National Action Plan (NAP) in November 2017 for the 2017-2022 period. This NAP is a follow up on the first Canadian NAP that was adopted in 2010 and covered the period up to 31 March 2016. The Government of Canada has consulted with civil society during the development of their second Action Plan, in particular, the Women, Peace and Security Network-Canada (WPSN-C). The NAP aims to support women’s full participation in peace and security efforts, to prevent, address and fight impunity for conflict-related sexual violence, to consolidate women’s and girls’ empowerment and advance gender equality, including in the world’s most dangerous and complex conflicts.

The NAP emphasises Canada’s commitment to its Feminist Foreign Policy, which requires engaging women and girls as agents and beneficiaries of change in peace and gender equality. Recognising the crucial role of civil society, Canada announced $150 million in funding for local women’s organisations that will facilitate programming in a range of sectors, including reconciliation and conflict prevention. Even though the NAP includes a budget for to achieve its objectives, it fails to reflect comments submitted by WILPF during the first NAP review process on the importance of strengthening disarmament for holistic implementation of the WPS Agenda and conflict prevention.

Read WILPF’s analysis of Canada’s 2017-2022 National Action Plan here>>