I appreciate that very much.
So in conclusion, why is this important? Canada's role as peacekeeper and peace builder is central to its citizens' view of their country--and I can give you the sources for this later.
Canada has significant public and private investments in conflict-affected countries, most notably in Afghanistan. Support for Canadian involvement in the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan rests largely on claims that Canada is working to protect the rights of women and girls. The Government of Canada consistently underlines this connection in its own representation of the mission. For example, in over two dozen speeches on Afghanistan made by Prime MinisterHarper, he mentions the rights of women and girls in all but two of those speeches.
There is anecdotal evidence that international norms related to gender equality have been integrated into some of Canada's programming in Afghanistan; however, it is equally evident that this integration is not happening in a systematic way. A particularly striking example is to be found in the current benchmarks for Canada's work in Afghanistan, not one of which is gender specific.
Canada has decided to extend its presence in Afghanistan past 2011. The benchmarks for success of this mission are being defined right now. Public statements thus far indicate that the central mandate of this extended mission will be training. Recent hearings by the Senate human rights committee suggest that our troops receive little or no training that would equip them to meaningfully address the gendered aspects of, for example, security sector reform, demobilization, disarmament, and reintegration programs, and the protection of women's human rights or the integration of women into the security sector.
Training makes a crucial difference—and I'd be happy to talk about how it does—and requests for training are coming from our troops and from people engaged in peacekeeping missions. This kind of knowledge doesn't fit in a holster, it doesn't cost a billion dollars, and it doesn't go boom, but it is essential.
Thank you.