Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and to support OXFAM Canada and OXFAM Quebec as they launch OXFAM's international report “Education Now: Break the Cycle of Poverty”.
The report focuses on the 125 million primary school age children in developing countries who are deprived of an education. Mass illiteracy has left them disadvantaged, vulnerable and impoverished. In over 20 developing countries more than 50% of the population, mainly women and girls, are unable to read or write. Universal primary education goals cannot be achieved.
OXFAM's campaign calls on governments to deploy debt relief measures to guarantee basic education targets in developing countries.
I call on all members to support OXFAM's activities in their ridings and to support OXFAM's campaign to eliminate global illiteracy.