Leitch defends lack of abortion funding for victims of war rape, forced marriage

OTTAWA – Status of Women Minister Kellie Leitch is blasting the “abhorrent” practices of rape as a weapon of war and the forced marriage of young children in the developing world.

But she’s defending Canada’s refusal to fund any aid projects that might help the victims of such barbaric practices obtain abortions.

Leitch, who is at the United Nations today to celebrate the UN’s International Day of the Girl, says Canada needs to target its aid efforts and has chosen to focus on pre- and post-partum maternal and child health.

As a pediatric surgeon, she says she’s confident Canada has chosen the right target.

She says Canada is focusing on areas where it can have the most impact, such as improving the filthy conditions in which many women around the globe give birth.

Leitch says Canada’s efforts have so far saved the lives of more 64,000 mothers and as many as 1.3 million children under the age of five.