Mr. Speaker, Canada's foreign policy priorities include eliminating violence against women and helping women become empowered decision makers.
To assist in these goals, the 2004 budget provides an additional $248 million for foreign aid. This is in addition to the $500 million Africa fund and is in keeping with our goal to double international assistance by 2010-11.
We have done this in Senegal, for instance, where CIDA supports a network of organizations that escort and protect women victims of violence, run literacy campaigns and hold legal information clinics.
Canada will maintain its commitment to reduce global poverty and strengthen democracy, justice and social stability, all of which will contribute to improving the situation of women around the world.