Building a more peaceful and secure world – founded on the values of inclusion, acceptance, and gender equality – is more important than ever to address the very real and persistent threats we face as a global community. These threats – including foreign actors trying to undermine our democratic institutions, terrorism, violent extremism, sexual violence, organized crime, weapons proliferation, as well as cybercrime – are wide-ranging and transcend all borders. Together, we need to act now to promote and protect the rights, freedoms, and safety of our citizens.

G7 Leaders’ Summit

At the G7 Summit, leaders recognized that respect for human rights, the rule of law, and equality of opportunity are needed to ensure lasting security and economic growth that works for everyone. Discussions among G7 leaders focused on concrete actions we can take to defend our democratic systems from foreign threats, including those that are aimed at undermining our democratic societies and institutions, our electoral processes, our sovereignty and our security. G7 leaders looked at the need for a coordinated, multi-dimensional approach to address these growing threats – and to identify and hold to account those who would do us harm. To that end, leaders agreed to the Charlevoix Commitment on Defending Democracy from Foreign Threats.

Leaders addressed the increasingly complex and evolving international security challenges related to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Russia, the East and South China Seas, Syria, Venezuela, Ukraine, Myanmar, Libya and Iran.

They also explored the need to bolster conflict-prevention efforts, respond more effectively to humanitarian crises, and strengthen measures to counter the spread of violent extremism.

Encouraging diversity, inclusion, and gender equality

Canada’s approach to international challenges is shaped by its domestic policy, in particular by its determination to build a more diverse and inclusive society. Canada believes that diversity, inclusion, and gender equality must guide our work to respond – at home and abroad – to the complex and evolving threats against our security, our democratic institutions, and, most importantly, our people.

Canada recognizes the need to strengthen our global cooperation and collaboration to deliver meaningful results for our citizens and vulnerable people around the world, particularly women and girls. Canada’s focus is on championing human rights, upholding democratic principles, and building a more peaceful and secure world for the benefit of future generations.

G7 ministerial meetings

Guided by shared values and principles, Canada and its G7 partners recognize the importance of working together to build a more peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world. Canada strongly supports a rules-based international order, built around the core principles of democracy, gender equality and human rights, the rule of law, territorial integrity, and free and open trade that benefits all citizens, not just the wealthiest few.

From April 22 to 24, 2018, G7 foreign affairs and security ministers met in Toronto, Ontario, to discuss the theme of “Building a more peaceful and secure world.”

During the joint meeting, ministers discussed Russia, and how to reinforce democracy around the world by clearly identifying unacceptable actions and addressing behaviour designed to destabilize and interfere in democratic systems, including through digital technologies. They also discussed the need to manage the risks associated with foreign terrorist fighters and associated travelers.

In a separate meeting, G7 foreign ministers exchanged views on the need to coordinate action to build a more peaceful and secure world based on respect for gender equality and human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy, and the rule of law.

They discussed:

• A rules-based international order
• Non-proliferation and disarmament
• Transnational threats to security
• Conflict prevention and support for United Nations efforts and reforms.

G7 foreign ministers committed to promoting the implementation of international humanitarian law. They also agreed to advance the G7 Women, Peace, and Security Partnership Initiative by coordinating efforts as appropriate and providing targeted support to conflict-affected countries in support of the women, peace, and security agenda. Members of the Gender Equality Advisory Council for Canada’s G7 Presidency also participated in the meetings, offering important perspectives on how G7 countries can move toward achieving gender equality.

G7 security ministers also discussed developing clear approaches to strengthen our security and protect our values as democratic nations. They committed to take action to:

• Manage domestic threats
• Counter violent extremism
• Prevent violent extremist and terrorist use of the internet
• Improve cyber security and fight against cybercrime
• Eliminate trafficking in persons.

The actions agreed to by G7 foreign affairs and security ministers during these meetings are outlined in the various commitments made by the ministers in Toronto.