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News Release

Minister Ambrose Dedicates UN Women Canada Award to Malala Yousufzai

October 11, 2012

OTTAWA, ON – The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, will be receiving a UN Women Canada Award for leading the campaign to have the United Nations proclaim today, October 11, the International Day of the Girl.

"I was proud to champion this call to ensure girls' rights get the recognition they deserve," said Minister Ambrose. "This day is for people like Malala Yousufzai, the 14-year old girl who was shot for speaking out against the Taliban in favour of girls' rights to an education. I condemn such acts of violence and oppression against Malala and other courageous girls and young women around the globe. It is with great respect and admiration, and with sincere wishes for her full recovery, that I dedicate this Award to Malala."

The International Day of the Girl will promote equal treatment and opportunities for girls around the world in areas such as law, nutrition, health care, education, training, and freedom from violence and abuse. The message is simple: girls' rights are human rights; the sooner in life girls know their rights, the greater the chance they will be able to exercise them.

Each year, the UN Women Canada Award is presented to an individual who has contributed to one or more of the following goals:

  • promoting women's empowerment and gender equality;
  • ending violence against women and girls;
  • protecting and promoting women's human rights;
  • strengthening women's economic capacity;
  • transforming government by promoting women's participation in decision-making;
  • contributing to a greater awareness of women's issues globally.

October is Women's History Month in Canada. In honour of the first-ever International Day of the Girl, the theme for Women's History Month is "Strong Girls, Strong Canada: Leaders from the Start." For information on International Day of the Girl and Women's History Month 2012, go to www.women.gc.ca.

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For more information, please contact:

Amber Irwin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Public Works and
Government Services and
Minister for Status of Women
819-997-5421

Nanci-Jean Waugh
Director General, Communications and Public Affairs
Status of Women Canada
613-995-7839

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Date Modified:
2012-10-11