More than $16M provided to Lawyers Without Borders Canada for a project promoting peace and justice in Mali

The Member of Parliament for Quebec City and President of the Treasury Board, Mr. Jean-Yves Duclos, announces the funding of an important international cooperation project in Mali aimed at the legal empowerment of women, girls and other people in situations of vulnerability.

The Government of Canada will provide $16,095,955 in funding over nearly five years for the Justice and Peace in Mali project (JUPAX), which will be carried out by Lawyers Without Borders Canada (LWBC).

“Working in the interest of human rights means working for the development of a Mali at peace and reconciled with its past. Together with civil society, the justice system and the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission, Lawyers Without Borders Canada intends to contribute to the fight against impunity by providing people in situations of vulnerability with the knowledge and resources necessary to make their human rights a reality.”

 

^{Pascal Paradis, Executive Director of Lawyers Without Borders Canada}

From 2015 to 2020, LWBC’s activities have raised awareness of gender-based violence among nearly 50,000 Malians. Their specialized expertise and deep understanding of the country’s issues have led to important advances in the fight against impunity, particularly for crimes committed against women victims of several armed conflicts.

“A sustainable future for all requires the well-being and participation of all. We are pleased to join forces once again with Lawyers Without Borders Canada, a Quebec City-based organization, to defend, value and promote human rights in Mali, particularly women’s rights.”

 

^{Jean-Yves Duclos, Member of Parliament for Quebec City and President of the Treasury Board}

Law is a powerful instrument for change to empower women and girls and to pursue gender equality, as outlined in Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy. LWBC is determined to amplify women’s voices and increase their participation in decision-making, both of which are essential to building and consolidating peace in Mali, as in many other countries.