By Manal Abdel Fattah
Ambassador Louis Dumas, Canada’s Ambassador to Cairo, said that Global Affairs Canada has a long track record of supporting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in its international assistance, which was reinforced by the launch of Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy.
This came during his speech at a celebration organized by the Mexican Embassy in Cairo, today, on the occasion of International Women’s Day and Egyptian Women’s Day, to distribute the “Pioneers of Change” awards for the fourth year in a row, in cooperation with the embassies of Canada and Sweden, in addition to the Czech Republic, France, and Germany.
The ambassador added that by implementing this policy, Canada has significantly increased its investments in promoting gender equality.
The ambassador added: Canada will continue to strengthen efforts to integrate gender equality outcomes and target that issue in our international assistance.
In the same context, Canada is keen to seize emerging opportunities to establish new partnerships in the field of development and support promising new approaches.
The ambassador stressed that the ceremony comes in appreciation of the social, economic, and political achievements made by distinguished Egyptian women, adding that when women enjoy equal access to economic opportunities, they not only enhance their personal well-being, but also work to enhance social cohesion and the resilience of their societies.
The Ambassador explained that the Canadian International Development Program is actively involved in supporting a healthy entrepreneurship ecosystem in Egypt, with a particular focus on sustainable and inclusive economic empowerment of women, in urban slums, and rural areas.
He added: Across about six governorates, we have witnessed the transformative power of women-led entrepreneurship in driving economic growth and promoting social inclusion, with the participation of women with disabilities.
He continued: Egyptian women have broken barriers, challenged norms, and blazed trails of inspiration for future generations, and their contributions to society, their unwavering spirit, and their commitment to creating a more inclusive world are a testament to the transformative power of female leadership.
The “Pioneers of Change” awards were launched in 2020, to honor the contributions of Egyptian gender equality pioneers and their efforts in building a stronger Egypt. The award ceremony is held in conjunction with the celebration of International Women’s Day and Egyptian Women’s Day, and this year’s slogan is “Inspiring Inclusion.”
Louis Dumas, Ambassador of Canada to Cairo, Ivan Yukl, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Cairo, Raphael Martin de Lagarde, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of France in Cairo, Frank Hartmann, Ambassador of Germany to Cairo, Leonora Rueda, Ambassador of Mexico to Cairo, and Hakan Emsgaard, Ambassador of Sweden to Cairo, celebrated. Highlights of the social, economic and political achievements of distinguished Egyptian women, as each of these six countries is long-standing advocates of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
