International Women's Day

Odette Carignan, former writter of Ponteix
Price : Lys d'art from the Conseil culturel fransaskois

Version française

International Women's Day is approaching fast:  on March 8, 2015. The association Les Auvergnois de Ponteix presents an exhibition on the evolution of women this day. This subject still causes despite even after many advances and achievements who have been made to promote equality between men and women.

The struggle of women in education, in labor and in civil rights fields never stopped. But the situation is very different from one country to another. We can see the difference if we take the example of Iceland, where women are practically equal to men, compared to the country of Yemen, where women have to face discrimination in major areas of their life[1]. In Canada, the situation is also different from all other countries. According to the Canadian government website, "Canada is committed to the view that gender equality is not only a human rights issue, but is also an essential component of sustainable development, social justice, peace, and security."[2] However, Canada is not perfect either. Several improvements have to be made.

The Commission on the Status of Women, the main intergovernmental committee for the status of women in the world, connects all the countries to make the point on women situation. Each year, the committee stand out themes, challenges and accomplishments that have to be made or discussed. The 2014 year noted the importance of the Millennium Development Goals (global organization) for the development of girls and women. This includes access and participation of women in education, training and science and technology. In addition, women should be able to get a decent job which fits with their skills.[3]

Achievements of Canada

• The Commission on the Status of Women and the Human Rights Council make the Women’s human rights a priority issue.
• Canada was one of the first country to sign and ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
• In 2002, Canada ratified the Optional Protocol to the CEDAW, adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2000.
• Canadians Women may, individually or collectively, submit complaints to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
• Canada participated in the development of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action in 1993. 
• Canada also played a key role at the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing 

* It is possible to consult the world ranking, conducted by the World Economic Forum, on gender parity in those four areas: health, education, economics and politics.

Site: http://reports.weforum.org/global-gender-gap-report-2014/rankings/

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[1] Gamaury, Laure., « L'Islande, numéro 1 mondial pour les conditions de vie des femmes

», 2012, [online], http://www.terrafemina.com/societe/international/articles/18952-lislande-numero-1-mondial-pour-les-conditions-de-vie-des-femmes.html, (page consulted on March 2, 2015).

[2] Gouvernement of Canada, « Canada’s commitment to gender equality and the advancement of women’s rights internationally », 2014, [online], http://www.international.gc.ca/rights-droits/women-femmes/equality-egalite.aspx?lang=eng, (page consulted on March, 2015).

[3] UN Women, « Commission on the Status of Women », 2015, [online], http://www.unwomen.org/en/csw, (page consulted on March 2, 2015).