Dear Prime Minister,
6.9 million children die every year from preventable causes. I was shocked to learn that the underlying cause of 1/3 of these deaths is malnutrition, which simple steps can help to prevent.
Just $10 billion dollars invested in nutrition interventions could save two million lives. While I am pleased that Canada has shown leadership on food security and nutrition in the past, I would like to ask you, as Prime Minister, to ensure that Canada makes new commitments to food security and nutrition and uses our leadership to secure more funding from other global partners. Specifically:
1. On the global scale, will you use your voice to press for the adoption of an ambitious global stunting target by international bodies and national governments?
2. Here in Canada, will you pledge to increase the level of ODA in the 2013 budget? Canada remains a long way off the target of 0.7% GDI.
Prime Minister, please take this opportunity to be a champion for children on the issue of nutrition. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
