"There is no trust more sacred than the one the world holds with children. There is no duty more important than ensuring that their rights are respected, that their welfare is protected, that their lives are free from fear and want and that they can grow up in peace."
- Kofi Annan, Former Secretary-General of the United Nations
When faced with a year of diverse challenges felt around the world including pandemic recovery, ongoing conflict and war and economic shocks we have been able to step up and mobilize our community to take action for a better world. From the over 40 monuments lit up to raise awareness for World Tuberculosis Day, to our national conference where took political action by meeting over 30 parliamentarians, to the countless letter-to-editors, op-eds, and social media posts, we have had impact and stood in solidarity with all those around the world facing increased challenges.
Before we ring in the New Year, we must continue urging the Government to step up and renew investment for access to quality education for children in emergencies at the upcoming Global Refugee Forum (GRF) happening from December 12-15th in Geneva, Switzerland.
The ask:
1. We are calling on Canada to renew and maintain investment in quality education by committing $500 million over 5 years at the Global Refugee Forum in December to restore access to quality education for the most marginalized learners, as well as fulfill Canada’s own commitment to invest new resources to support access to education for girls, refugees, internally displaced children, and those living with disabilities in emergencies.
2. We are calling on Canada to ensure all programming for children in emergencies has a holistic, whole-of-child approach that includes stable and long-term, flexible funding informed by affected communities.
Note: The Global Refugee Forum (GRF) is scheduled to take place December 12-15th in Geneva, Switzerland – follow us on X or Instagram for updates!
Education is the foundation for peaceful, prosperous, and thriving societies, it prevents radicalization and extremism, promotes gender quality, creates a safe space for learning, builds emotional resilience, and equips children with the skills needed to take on the challenges of the future. Canada has an opportunity to close the gaps in education financing and continue the legacy and impact of the Charlevoix Declaration by stepping up with new investments at the GRF.
Canada is a champion of women and girls’ rights and revered for its steadfast political leadership in global education, most notably as the architect of the Charlevoix Declaration on Quality Education for Girls, Adolescent Girls and Women in Developing Countries. Backed by a Canadian investment of CAD$400mn, leveraging a historic CAD$3.8bn from the G7 and other partners in 2018, Charlevoix-funded projects have had life-changing and positive impacts for the most marginalized learners, including girls, refugees, and displaced children and youth living in emergencies. In its recent report to Parliament, Global Affairs Canada confirmed that Canada’s Charlevoix investment alone has reached 4 million girls and women across 55 projects in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.
Unfortunately, Budget 2023 did not specify a renewed investment in global education, and more than two thirds of Charlevoix-funded projects have wrapped up and closed operations. More concerning is that the delivery of quality education, leading to learning, leadership, and life-skills - relied on by so many women and girls has ended. The world is looking to Canada to reaffirm its commitment to quality education - and reinvest - to protect its legacy as a leader for girls’ education at the Global Refugee Forum.
Education is only one piece of the very important puzzle that is needed to create the environment for children to strive and thrive. Not only do children need access to quality and safe education, but they also need nutritious food to help fuel brain and body development, they need proper immunizations for protection from curable diseases like polio and measles, they need an environment with caregivers who provide protection, care, and support. As we continue to advocate until the very end of the year for children in emergencies, let’s look to 2024 with optimism, hope, solutions, and a commitment to solidarity for a better world, and a better future, for all children, no matter where they live.
The ask:
1. We are calling on Canada to renew and maintain investment in quality education by committing $500 million over 5 years at the Global Refugee Forum in December to restore access to quality education for the most marginalized learners, as well as fulfill Canada’s own commitment to invest new resources to support access to education for girls, refugees, internally displaced children, and those living with disabilities in emergencies.
2. We are calling on Canada to ensure all programming for children in emergencies has a holistic, whole-of-child approach that includes stable and long-term, flexible funding informed by affected communities.
Note: The Global Refugee Forum (GRF) is scheduled to take place December 12-15th in Geneva, Switzerland – follow us on X or Instagram to for updates!
latest campaign news
#ChampionChildrenInEmergencies:
poem
A word that speaks for itself is suffer
Children who live in camps are trying to recover
From all the hope that was stolen, making them vision the future to be rougher.
But that’s not the end we want, were going to uncover
All the hope that was put aside, start over and discover
Ways we can step up and raise those voices so they can flutter, Freely, Live a happy childhood with nothing that will act like a crusher, One smile leads to the others
And one hand, It can help many, one after the other
- Sedra (15), co-founder of Elegant Art
Elegant Art is an organization led by two incredible youth who came to Canada as refugees from Syria when they were little. Sedra, now 15, and her 13-year-old sister Shahd sell art and writing that inspire and educate about the refugee experience. Learn more or order postcards made of seed paper at elegantcard.ca.
video
December 1: World AIDS Day
December 5: International Volunteer Day
December 10: Human Rights Day
December 12-15: Global Refugee Forum
December 27: International Day of Epidemic Preparedness
Check out our full key dates calendar
Education in emergencies
Early childhood development in emergencies
Adequate nutrition
Good Health
Protection
Global Refugee Forum
#ChampionChildrenInEmergencies
#EducationForAll
#FutureGameChangers
#NoMatterWhat
#GlobalRefugeeForum
#Canada4Results
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