The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women convened in Geneva on October 16 2024, and has released its concluding observations on Canada’s progress in implementing the UN Convention on gender equity.
Child Care Now had joined forces with the Canadian Labour Congress, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, and the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women to make a submission to the UN committee on Canada’s implementation of Article 11 of the convention in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic recovery.
In its report, the UN Committee commends progress made since 2016 across various legislative and regulatory policy areas that impact gender equality, including the adoption of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care system.
On child care, the Committee welcomes the important role that the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Plan plays in achieving gender equality in employment. It recognizes the importance of CWELCC in supporting mothers with young children’s participation in the labour market.
However, the Committee also voices concern about the lack of consistent funding and implementation of CWELCC, and recommends the federal government ensure sufficient funding for the implementation of the program, particularly in rural and remote areas.
While the Committee “recognizes Canada’s extensive efforts to promote women’s equality through legal reforms, initiatives and programs” the Committee also makes recommendations to:
- Implement measurement tools to assess the impact of gender equality policies;
- Develop effective mechanisms for working with non-governmental organizations to ensure their inputs and views are heard;
- Enhance data collection and analysis across all demographics, particularly for disadvantaged and Indigenous women, disaggregated by sex, age, disability and geographic location; and,
- Address men in policies and initiatives aimed at eliminating discrimination against women and promoting gender equality.
Another key recommendation made by the Committee is to “streamline procedures and policies of all institutions at federal, provincial and territorial levels tasked with formulating, coordinating and overseeing the issuance and implementation of gender-responsive laws and policies, and that is effectively standardizes policies and procedures”
The Committee requests that Canada provide “within two years, written information on the steps taken to implement the recommendations” contained in the Committee’s concluding observations.