Thank you. I think also the concerns expressed about the militarization of aid has made a lot of NGOs apprehensive about working in that area.
I sent an inquiry to your department about spending and plans that Canadians were doing in Kandahar, and you gave me back a very thorough document. I want to thank you and the department for that information.
On the development projects that were focused on Kandahar, I was surprised to go through that information and find out that only 1.6% of the funding and the projects we're doing there were specifically targeted to women.
When we listen to the government talk about--not just our government, but also ISAF and NATO--the rationale for being in Afghanistan and the military missions taking place there, they always talk about the needs of women in Afghanistan. It may be the only time in history that women's equality is given as a reason for war.
Anyway, I was surprised that only 1.6% of those funds were specifically directed to women, even adding the nationwide funding for women's programs. Only four programs in Kandahar mention women specifically. I want to ask you about that in particular, because as I said earlier, women and girls are meant to be a big priority in what we're doing there.