CEP Sisters at the UN

Women in Politics

This panel was organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and focused on women information and communications technology (ICT) is affecting women's engagement in politics.
The moderator raised a very interesting point at the beginning of the session, women represent 19.5 percent worldwide of parliamentarians, there is more progress in lower house's of parliament and in countries that have 50 percent or more of women politicians these countries have some form of proportional representation or quotas.
This emphasizes what the labour movement and social democratic parties in Canada has been saying and lobbying for.
The representatives presenting included two MP's one from Spain and from the UK, along with a representative from iknowpolitics. The presenters discussed the increased use of social media in their roles as MP's, along with traditional email and websites, the use of blogs, Facebook and twitter. They emphasized the wide reaching audience of social media. Social media can be used an internal knowledge network for women in politics, for information and knowledge sharing. There was a discussion about linking elected women with young women interested in politics and the effectiveness of social media to be used in mentoring women to become involved.
In the UK Parliament all of the committees have twitter accounts and approximately 50 percent use social media and that number increases every day. Interesting of that 50 percent using social media, only 2 percent use Facebook the others are using twitter. The MP from Spain emphasized that new information and communications technology (NICT) constitute a fundamental tool in almost all areas of life, opening a broad window to the world allowing us to communicate, inform others, improve business relationships, open new markets and to become part of the information society.
The representative from iknowpolitics identified that ICT is being used to conquer the political space. Examples were given of young women and activists using social media, by simply sending out a tweet, you can inspire people to join your cause, your rally, your event. She stated that "democracy is not imported it comes from within."
Issues raised during the question and answer included accessibility to networks and wireless another strength of the broadband, especially in rural and remote areas.
In Canada the telecommunications Act speaks to universal accessibility and this is current challenge that within the Labour movements continue to lobby for is the universal accessibility of broadband width. Similar in many other countries companies make the infrastructure investments in large urban centres and are much slower and almost reluctant to invest in rural and remote communities.
Training and education as well as literacy was also identified as impediments to the expansion of ICT usage.
Barb Dolan
CEP Ontario Region Administrative Vice President

Side event: Follow that money! Specific and targeted budgets for gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Follow that Money!

Delegates were offered a feminist analysis of the economic crisis and how we ensure gender mainstreaming and budgeting, women’s activism, quality education for girls and decent work for women are guaranteed within the economic structures especially during times of crisis.

At a side event of the UNCSW56, Education International, Global Unions and the Swedish Women’s Lobby in consultative status with ECOSOC, focused on specific and targeted budgets for gender equality and the empowerment of women.

The panellists were Lena Sommestad, President of Social Democratic Women in Sweden and Professor of Economic History, Teopista Birungi Mayanja, General Secretary of the Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU), Executive Board member of Education International, Marion Boeker, Gender budgeting Expert, the European Gender Budgeting Network and European Women’s Lobby. Moderator of the panel was Gertrud Aström, President of the Swedish Women’s Lobby.

Women’s rights and gender equality are often neglected in times of economic crisis. The financial crisis affected the world, but the consequences are largely borne by women. As the world moved into the crisis, women were already disproportionately living in poverty. The neo liberal agenda left women’s equality on the back burner during the economic crisis and at risk once again of losing past gains. According to the World Bank in 2009, they stated that investing in women and girls is smart economics, as well as fair and just.

How can we ensure that Women’s rights and gender equality stay on the political agenda?

Teopista Birungi Mayanja, General Secretary of the Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU) said “women must no longer ask, but demand to be included in the decision making process. We must organize, mobilize and strategize with women, trade unionists and stakeholders to work to improve women’s equality.” She also pointed out the role of trade unions to develop policies and programs that will support women's right to decent work and quality education. "Trade Unions have to wake up from being sleeping lions!"

Marion Boeker from The European Women’s Lobby said “Now is actually a good time for women to ensure that the necessary gender budgeting reforms are put in to place. The gaps between men and women are now wider than ever and gender budgeting can help to correct the gaps.”


In Sisterhood and Solidarity,


Julie White - Director, CAW Women's Department

Cheryl Robinson - Vice President, Caw 2002

Follow-up: Response to Canadian Minister's Statement

On Tuesday evening, February 28th, Canadian Labour Delegates were invited to a reception hosted by Minister Rona Ambrose, Minister for the Status of Women, Canada. We had the opportunity to voice our many concerns at that meeting; however, and without regard, the Minister issued a press release suggesting she "champions rural women on the international stage." 

This is our official statement following the press release:

Statement by women’s organizations and the pan-Canadian labour movement

New York, March 1^st, 2012

Representatives of women’s organizations and the pan-Canadian labour movement are gathered in New York on the occasion of the 56^th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. The theme this year focuses on empowering rural women, and we are here to ensure that governments agree to protecting public services, providing access to decent work and quality education and training at all levels for rural and Aboriginal women.

We are very dissatisfied with the statement that was issued on February 29 by the Honorable Rona Ambrose, Minister responsible for the Status of Women, at the plenary session of the Commission. In that statement, there was no mention of the role of government in the development of policies and programs that could empower rural women.

No reference to the important role of public services, such as public transportation, clean water, health care, affordable housing and quality education, in ensuring women’s equality and full participation in society.

No reference to the importance of ensuring that rural women have access to decent work, including pay equity, health and safety at work and child care.

No reference to an action plan addressing violence against Aboriginal women, poverty alleviating measures, or other measures to end the housing and education crisis on and off reserve.

No reference to the importance of ensuring that women participate in the process leading to local, regional and national development policies.

And while the government is preparing the federal budget 2012, there was no reference to the importance of taking gender into account in budgetary policies, despite repeated promises to do so.

We reiterate that we are:

• In support of public services
• In support of access for rural women to affordable, quality, public and not-for-profit early learning and care
• In support of the transfer of the gun registry data to the provinces and territories
• In support of the rights of Aboriginal women
• For the application of “decent work” standards, and their application to women working in rural regions
• For the adoption of a gender sensitive federal budget

We ask that the federal government respect its commitment under the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action, that it revise its current policies and take the necessary measures to effectively respect and promote women’s rights, in particular women living in rural and remote regions.

Canadian Auto Workers/Syndicat des travailleurs et des travailleuses de l’automobile
Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions/Fédération canadienne des syndicats d’infirmières et infirmiers
Canadian Federation of University Women
Canadian Labour Congress/Congrès du travail du Canada
Canadian Teachers’ Federation/Fédération canadienne des enseignantes et des enseignants
Canadian Union of Postal Workers/Syndicat des travailleurs et des travailleuses des postes
Canadian Union of Public Employees/Syndicat canadien de la function publique
Centrale des syndicats du Québec
Communications, Energy and Paperworkers/Syndicat canadien des communications, de l’energie et du papier
Confédération des syndicats nationaux/Confederation of National Trade Unions
Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario
Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIIQ)
Fédération des travailleurs et des travailleuses du Québec/Quebec Federation of Labour
International Association of Machinists (IAMAW)
National Council of Women of Canada
Northern Territories Federation of Labour
Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association
Ontario Federation of Labour
Public Service Alliance of Canada /Alliance de la Fonction publique du Canada
Syndicat de la function publique du Québec
United Steelworkers/Syndicat des métallos

UNCSW56, Day 3

A Special Session was held on day three of UNCSW56, for Canadian Labour delegates by the International Labour Organization (ILO).  Director of the  ILO Gender Bureau , Jane Hodges, and Senior Gender Specialist Raphael Crowe, opened up the session identifying the four pillars of decent work: jobs, rights, social dialogue and social protection.

Director Hodges introduced the global social policy approach known as the Social Protection Floor (SPF). SPF has been introduced in the ILO’s proposed amendments to the draft conclusions by the UN Commission on the Status of Women. 

The SPF promotes integrated strategies for providing access to essential social services and income security for all. Social protection is one of the four pillars of Decent Work. 

Other issues highlighted by the ILO included the need to train women in the collective bargaining process which will advance their participation.  Workplace initiatives identified by the ILO to end gender based violence drew interest from delegates who were enthusiastic about collective bargaining gains such as the CAW Women’s Advocate program. There was a consensus by attendee’s that the 2013 UNCSW 57 – theme “Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against Women and Girls” should include a component of successful examples of equality measures negotiated and won, during collective bargaining.

In Sisterhood and Solidarity,

Julie White  - Director, CAW Women's Department

Cheryl Robinson  - Vice President, Caw 2002 

Feb 29th - Daily Briefing

The Daily briefing for trade union delegates to the 56 th session of the UNCSW reported on previous days lobbying activities / advocacy work, with their respective member countries. Delegates acknowledged movement and agreement in some areas in terms of the priority themes but also indicated there was much work to be done.  Reports included information shared at regional caucuses, NGO briefings and parallel events attended by delegates. Women were enthusiastic about the progress made and are looking forward to the support of the proposed revised conclusions, reinforcing the three priority themes:

1. The empowerment of rural women and the role in poverty and hunger eradication, development and current challenges, after eradication.

2. Review theme financing for gender equality and empowerment of women.

3. Emerging issue engaging young women and men, girls and boys, to advance gender equality.

In Sisterhood and Solidarity,
Julie White
Cheryl Robinson

Feb 28 - Evening Update - Labour Delegates meet with Rona Ambrose



Julie White speaks with Rona Ambrose

On Tuesday evening, Canadian Labour Delegates were invited to a reception hosted by Minister Rona Ambrose, Minister for the Status of Women, Canada. Also attending the event was NDP critic for the Status of Women in Canada, Françoise Boivin.  After remarks to the delegation, attendee’s had an opportunity to speak with Minister Ambrose. Julie White, CAW Director of the Women’s Department, Patty DuCharme Vice President PSAC, and Marcelle Perron from the FTQ challenged the Minister on the Conservatives' position on eliminating the long gun registry, but in particular as it relates to the destruction of the records of 7.1 million rifles and shotguns currently registered in Canada. 

The delegation urged Minster Ambrose to speak with her colleague Vic Toews, Minister for Public Safety, to take a principled stand, and not oppose the transference of the existing data to the provinces.

Provisions under Bill C-19 are inconsistent with International treaties to keep the records for the purpose of tracing and will make it difficult, if not impossible, to meet our International obligations under at least four international treaties. The erosion of Canada’s leadership reflects the strong influence of the gun lobby on government policy at both the domestic and international levels.

In sisterhood,

Julie White - CAW Director of Women's Department
Cheryl Robinson - CAW 2002 Vice President

Feb 28 2012 UNCSW 56

The Canadian Trade union delegation met for the morning briefing at the Salvation Army. Jane Hodges Director, Bureau for Gender Equality, International Labour Organization (ILO) briefed international trade union delegates on the Draft Conclusions submitted by the Commission on the status of Women.  Jane also discussed the four draft resolutions to date, HIV AIDS, Indigenous Women, Natural Disaster, and Maternal Mortality.

Andreé Côté-PSAC Womens Program Officer, updated the delegation on the main points to the proposed amendments.

1) Labour Protections and Decent work; strengthen the references to decent work and labour protection and relevant ILO conventions as they apply to rural women workers

2) Public Service; references to Public services as necessary but not sufficient to improve the situation of rural and indigenous women and girls and alleviate poverty to specific services including HC education child care transportation, access to clean water and sanitation services

3) Education and Training ; expand the references to education to include quality education at all levels, from early childhood education through to higher education and lifelong learning and training for rural women and girls.

Andreé then reported on the amendments made to the draft agreed conclusions and encouraged the international trade union delegation to lobby NGO’s and participating countries at the UNCSW 56 to ensure that the identified changes  are implemented.

In Sisterhood and Solidarity,

Julie White - CAW Director of Women's Department
Cheryl Robinson - CAW 2002 Vice President