Canadian Civil Society Calls on Prime Minister Carney to Uphold Canada’s Global Leadership on Gender Equality and Human Rights

Ottawa, ON — More than 250 organizations and individuals from across Canada are calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to take urgent and decisive action to safeguard Canada’s feminist foreign policy commitments at a time of escalating global instability and mounting attacks on human rights. 

In a letter delivered today, signatories warn that recent shifts in Canada’s foreign policy risk weakening the country’s long-standing leadership on gender equality, human rights, and multilateralism. The letter underscores that feminist policy approaches are not simply about values, they are critical to global security, economic resilience, and Canada’s strategic interests. 

“Canada has built a respected reputation as a defender of human rights and gender equality,” the letter states. “To step back from this leadership at a moment of unprecedented global rollbacks sends the wrong message to the world.” 

On behalf of the more than 250 signatories, the letter urges Prime Minister Carney and the federal government to take clear and robust action, including: 

• Reaffirming human rights and gender equality as core pillars of Canada’s foreign policy, ensuring these commitments are embedded across trade, defense, diplomacy, and development. This includes confirming feminism as a fundamental value of Canada’s international engagement and strengthening the capacity of Global Affairs Canada to apply feminist analysis and prioritize gender equality investments. 
• Sustaining Canada’s flagship feminist development commitments, including the 10-year sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) commitment; the Women, Peace and Security National Action Plan; Women’s Voice and Leadership; programming on gender-based violence and girls’ education; and dedicated funding for 2SLGBTIQ+ rights. 
• Establishing a civil society advisory panel of Canadian and global feminist leaders and re-appointing an Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security to guide and oversee Canada’s feminist foreign policy. 

The letter emphasizes that gender equality is central to Canada’s security and economic priorities. Violence against women and girls, for example, costs Canada more than $9 billion every year, demonstrating that gender inequality has material impacts on economic productivity, public services, and community wellbeing. 

With human rights under attack in many regions, civil society leaders argue that Canada has both the opportunity and responsibility to respond. Anti-rights movements are organizing across borders, seeking to roll back progress on gender equality. The letter stresses that Canada has developed world-leading expertise over the past decade in combatting gender-based violence, advancing SRHR, supporting women human rights defenders, and embedding Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) and must not abandon these strengths. 

With the world facing escalating crises and instability, Canada’s leadership is more urgent than ever.  

Contact Information 

Laveza Khan | laveza.khan@oxfam.org | 613-240-4157