Statement on the International Day of the Girl

October 11, 2012

For Immediate Release
October 11, 2012

Liberal Statement on the International Day of the Girl
 
TORONTO AND MONTRÉAL– Liberal Status of Women critic Judy Sgro made the following statement today on International Day of the Girl:
 
“On the first International Day of the Girl, we shine a light on the importance of recognizing and promoting girls’ rights around the world. It is both a time to raise awareness of the unique challenges that they face, and to advocate for greater investments in their futures.
 
On behalf of the Liberal Party of Canada and our Parliamentary caucus, I renew our pledge to fight for the rights of girls in Canada and around the world.”
 
Liberal Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette continued:
 
“On this day, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that girls are able to reach their full potential, most notably through education, which plays a vital role in empowerment.

Unfortunately, this Conservative government’s track record on girls’ education has been nothing short of regrettable. Within Canada, attainment rates among Aboriginal girls are among the lowest in our population. And while the government claims that support for girls is one of their foreign policy priorities, CIDA recently cut all funding to the Afghan-Canadian Community Centre, a school that educated thousands of Afghan girls and women, and was a key part of our legacy in Afghanistan.
 
We simply cannot allow this to stand. Girls deserve better.”