OTTAWA, Ontario, Dec. 5th, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Canada’s Liberals and New Democrats are criticizing a motion to condemn sex selection as another attempt to reopen debate on abortion, but the measure’s sponsor says he would be “shocked” if Opposition parties ultimately voted against protecting girls from discrimination.
At a press conference Wednesday, Tory MP Mark Warawa (Langley), Motion 408’s sponsor, declared December 5th as Protect Girls, Support M408 Day, and launched a public campaign as part of the activism for his motion. He noted that Dec. 5th is Day 11 of the international 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.
Observing that Canadians have been looking for a “cohesive venue” through which to promote the motion, Warawa said they have launched the following initiatives:
- A Facebook page: Protect Girls – Support M408
- A petition drive, with petitions downloadable at markwarawa.com or supportm408.com
- A Twitter campaign with conversation at hashtags #protectgirls and #M408
- and a Youtube campaign with users posting their own videos titled “I support M408.”
Warawa was joined at the press conference by several female members of the Tory caucus.
Stella Ambler (Mississauga South) said MPs have noticed that the issue is being discussed across the country. “Canada is a leader in human rights around the world, and that is because we take action when atrocities, like gendercide, are committed. All parties in this House have condemned sex-selection,” she said.
Joy Smith (Kildonan-St. Paul) said gendercide is “discrimination against females,” and thus violates Canadian law. “I applaud MP Warawa for putting M-408 forward to raise awareness of this issue. I urge all Canadians to support it, to ensure the protection of girls.”
Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar MP Kelly Block commended the groups and individuals that have worked very hard to raise awareness of M-408 and have lobbied for its passage. “By raising awareness on this issue, these groups and individuals truly are the defenders of gender equality and the protection of women and girls against discrimination. By supporting M-408 we are affirming our value of gender equality here in Canada”, says Block.
“The issue of female gendercide is being discussed openly across Canada and internationally,” says Warawa. “We are calling on all Canadians to work together to end violence against women and girls, to send a message of acceptance that women are valued in Canada and to stop this discrimination, protect girls and support M-408.”