Welcome to the United Nations
Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations
As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its third year, its devastating impacts continue to ripple across all aspects of life. For women and girls in all their diversity, these impacts have been disproportionate, exposing and deepening existing inequalities and vulnerabilities across social, political and economic planes. In particular, women and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) continues to be curtailed due to lockdowns and limitations on service delivery, diversion of health resources, and de-prioritization of women’s health investments. At the same time, the world has seen a sharp rise in anti-progressive ideologies and ever-increasing legal restrictions that limit women’s rights and bodily autonomy. The combined impact of these regressions warrants examination, as we look to protect and advance global SRHR goals. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development puts the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at the heart of all its Goals and targets, noting that, “the achievement of full human potential and of sustainable development is not possible if one half of humanity continues to be denied its full human rights and opportunities.” At this year’s HLPF, with SDG 5 under review, Canada and its partners will seek to reinforce the importance of SDG target 5.6, Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, as foundational to the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.
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