Canada and Chile have signed an agreement to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in both countries.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chilean President Gabriel Boric attended a special signing ceremony today in Ottawa, where they say they committed to working together on issues that affect gender equality.
Those issues include COVID-19 recovery efforts, women in positions of leadership, gender-based violence and peace and security.
Gender Equality Minister Marci Ien says the agreement seeks to set up a framework for the two governments to co-operate on public policies to promote women’s empowerment.
She says both countries are intent on supporting each other’s goals to remove socio-economic, cultural and institutional barriers that prevent women from participating in the economy and public life.
Trudeau says Canada and Chile have had a long-standing, positive relationship, and at a time when authoritarian states are rising and democracies are backsliding, it’s important to welcome a “strong, progressive voice” on the world stage.
“It is great news for Chile, it is great news for Canada, to have such a strong partner at the end of the continent.”
This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
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