Dated: March 7th, 2010
Her Excellency The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D. Governor General of Canada
1 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario,
K1A 0A1
Your Excellency,
On behalf of myself and the members of the Canadian National Committee for the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), I would like to express solidarity with the Haitian people who are currently engaged in the crucial process of reconstructing their lives and society in today’s challenging times.
The massive scale of the 12th January 2010 earthquake in Haiti deems a response that expands beyond the capacity of any social or humanitarian organization. The tragic situation on the ground in Port-au-Prince and Jacmel necessitates a collaborative effort from various Haitian women’s organizations, civil society groups, private sector organizations, and international partners such as UNIFEM and the Government of Canada.
We understand that Haiti’s road to reconstruction requires a long-term humanitarian commitment. Therefore, we would like to assure you that the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) will continue to generously support the Government of Haiti and its partners in the reconstruction efforts.
As per the mandate of the UNIFEM Canada, the establishment of gender-equality is the fundamental objective for the recovery efforts. In order to accomplish this goal, I am tirelessly working with the UNIFEM head-quarters in New York, partners within the UN system and support-groups in Haiti to ensure that the impact of the earthquake on girls, boys, women and men is addressed as per their differential requirements.
In order to provide a fair and equitable voice for women in the reconstruction process, UNIFEM is engaged in various activities to assess the critical needs of women and their families today. In this new-phase of recovery efforts in Haiti, the Canadian National Committee is advising the United Nations Development Fund for Women to ensure that the fault lines of exclusion and inequality are addressed so as to build a more solid foundation for the future and harness the potential of Haitian women and men in defining the Haiti that they want to build. We have enclosed a report outlining ongoing UNIFEM efforts in responding to the devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti.
I would like to highlight the Canadian National Committee for UNIFEM’s activities in contributing to these efforts. Aside from the Canadian National Committee for UNIFEM’s involvement on an international level, under my presidency and vision, the Board of Directors launched a “Compassion for Haiti” campaign to raise funds for this disaster. We have also launched an e-card campaign and organized fund-raisers to alert all Canadians about the situation in Haiti and UNIFEM’s role in the reconstruction process.
We truly appreciate your involvement in the recovery process and spreading awareness about the after-effects of this humanitarian disaster, and we look forward to working with the Canadian Government to alleviate the suffering in Haiti and aid in re-building a stronger, democratic and a prosperous Haiti.
Very Respectfully Yours, 
Almas Jiwani
President
Board of Directors
Canadian Committee for United Nations Fund for Women
UNIFEM Canada
300-309 Cooper Street Ottawa,
ON K2P OG5
Tel. (613) 232-5751 Ext. 235
Email:
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Website: www.unifemcanada.org
Read more about the analysis, re-assessment and scope of the reconstruction possibilities in Haiti as suggested by the Canadian National Committee for United Nations Development Fund for Women .( 931 KB)
