November 2014 marks a milestone in Canadian history. Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights, a progressive, pro-choice charitable organization, is now officially launched and ready to speak up for sexual health and rights in Canada and globally.
The new organization – a merger of three of Canada’s leading voices on sexual health and rights – is an opportunity for a strengthened voice in international and national-level policy, education and access and a leap forward when it comes to including Canadian perspectives in the global movement for sexual and reproductive health and rights.
With the combined history and experience of three leading organizations, Action Canada is well positioned to:
- increase access to quality sexual and reproductive health information and services and to comprehensive sexuality education in Canada and globally;
- engage, educate and inform governments and non-government actors to create environments that enable the advancement of sexual and reproductive health and rights in Canada and globally;
- ensure that governments worldwide – including Canada – fulfill and implement their human rights obligations related to sexual and reproductive rights; and
- strengthen and support mobilizing a diverse movement in Canada and globally that advances a sexual and reproductive health and rights agenda that is inclusive of all people and broad in its scope.
As part of a national and global movement, the new organization will engage with governments and non-government actors and organizations to advance sexual health and rights issues.
Action Canada will work with its associate organizations, a growing network of over 25 local organizations providing sexual and reproductive health information and services across the country, to address the realities and needs of diverse communities. Action Canada’s role as secretariat to the Canadian Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development will ensure the continued engagement of decision-makers in a non-partisan forum around sexual health and rights issues. Action Canada’s work coordinating the Sexual Rights Initiative will build on existing south-north partnerships to mobilize international efforts on sexual health and rights issues.
Such partnerships will play an important part in guiding and facilitating the organization’s work at the community, national and international levels.
Building on the strengths of three organizations, the support of partners and donors, including the SeaChange Lodestar Fund for Nonprofit Collaboration, and one unified vision, Action Canada will collaborate, engage, educate and inform toward a Canada and a world in which all people are guaranteed their sexual health and rights.