Be Brave, Be Bold: Recommendations for Canada's feminist foreign policy

In 2020, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, then-Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced a process to draft an official statement on Canada's feminist foreign policy. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Global Affairs Canada undertook a number of consultations in partnership with stakeholders from civil society. This included a series of engagement sessions organized by the Feminist Foreign Policy Working Group (FFPWG), of which Inter Pares is a member.

Be Brave, Be Bold: Recommendations for Canada's feminist foreign policy is the Working Group's official submission to the government of Canada on its feminist foreign policy. As part of Inter Pares’ contribution, co-manager Rita Morbia details four specific recommendations for Canada in Strengthening Feminism in the Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP), a chapter in Be Brave, Be Bold. These recommendations include:

1. Recognize and redress aid as a colonial structure;
2. Reorient the section of the FIAP on “Growth that Works for Everyone” to “Dismantling Inequality”;
3. Accelerate the implementation of feminist processes in disbursing international assistance; and,
4. Continue to prioritize sexual and reproductive health and rights, including advocacy in Canada’s international assistance programming.

To allow for follow up, contacts have been added at the end of each section who are available to answer questions and provide additional information.