Mines Action Canada welcomes “Foundations for Peace: Canada’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security – 2023 to 2029” and its recognition of the role women play in disarmament and mine action in the CNAP3. We recognize that implementation will be key to ensure that the promise of the Foundations for Peace is realized.
Foundations for Peace reflects some of the inputs from civil society over the past two years and an improvement over the 2nd National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security. The focus on domestic issues is a welcome addition to the CNAP as is the recognition of women as peace actors. The discussion of culture change in the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces is an important national conversation and as part of the mine action sector which has taken similar actions against gender inequality, MAC is prepared to share our learnings and experience with the Government of Canada.
We were pleased to see extensive mention of mine action and disarmament throughout the Action Plan and the GAC Implementation Plan. Canada’s support for youth, especially young women, in disarmament has been an important contribution to the development of more effective and efficient mine action.
The release is an excellent first step but now implementation will be the test. The Government of Canada must ensure that its actions live up to the promise of the CNAP3.
