Thank you.
In the 2013 Speech from the Throne—we heard a little about this earlier—the government recognized that millions of women and girls worldwide continue to be brutalized by violence, including the inhumane practice of early and forced marriage. The proposed changes in this particular bill, Bill S-7, the zero tolerance for barbaric cultural practices act, will help ensure that these harmful cultural practices do not occur on Canadian soil.
Let me say in my last 20 seconds that I would strongly urge and implore all members of this committee to speak to their caucuses and to their leaders to ensure that we expeditiously pass this legislation at the end of the day, because what we will be doing, Mr. Chair, is protecting women and girls.
Thank you.