Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Thank you both for your testimonies.
I think credit should be given to Canada and the government for some of the programs they've put in place that are aimed at protection of children and youth in developing countries. As my colleague from the NDP said, there is a full range of things that can possibly be done, and to me one that is missing is that of family planning, which I think is very important to all of this. Ms. Stewart, you seemed to corroborate that as one element that would certainly help with the challenge that faces us.
I'm trying to understand this in really practical terms. Child marriages, forced marriages, girls leaving school at a very young age, and all the things you described so well: we all agree these are things that need to be changed. In practical terms, how does one do this?
You alluded to the fact that speaking to village elders and leading members in tribal societies is one way to get the attention of those who can effect change. I'm trying to imagine this happening. When one thinks of such deeply ingrained traditions as those that you described, where an 11-year-old girl is married off, and that's effectively the end of her life except for child-bearing, it's not exactly clear to me how sitting down with those who are in a position to effect change at the village level is going to.... How does one persuade them that it is ultimately in their best interest...that it is also wrong...? How does one get that message across? How do you in the UNPF carry out that part of the task?