THE WOMEN'S PROGRAM - SECRETARY
OF STATE - 1973

In 1973 the federal government initiated the Women's Program. The purpose of this Program is:

  • to promote the increased participation of women in all aspects of Canadian society, particularly in decision-making and in the political process; and,

  • to increase the capability and effectiveness of women's organizations and groups working to improve the status of women.

The Nielsen Report states that the Women's Program "...is the principal (and in some cases, the only) federal government source of operational funding to women's voluntary organizations working to improve the status of women.. ." (ibid. p.119)

In its assessment of this Program, the Nielsen Report states: "Given the government's commitment to taking serious long-term action to improve the status of women in Canada, any funding cuts in this area would not be appropriate." (ibid. p.120)

STATUS OF WOMEN CANADA - 1976

Since 1971 there has been a Minister Responsible for the Status of Women. In 1976, Status of Women Canada was instituted by Order-in-Council. Its objective is to promote equal opportunities for women in all spheres of Canadian life.

The role of this Program is to ensure that the government carries out its commitment to equality between men and women. According to the Nielsen Report, it "provides the key coordinative mechanism on a system-wide basis". (ibid. p. 109)

THE CANADIAN CHARTER OF RIGHTS
AND FREEDOMS - 1982

As a result of the vigilance and great activity displayed by women's organizations, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which is part of Canada's Constitution (1982), contains the following equality guarantees:

Section 15.

  1. Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.

  2. Subsection (1) does not preclude any law, program or activity that has as its object the amelioration of conditions of disadvantaged individuals or groups including those that are disadvantaged because of race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.
  1. Notwithstanding anything in this Charter, the rights and freedoms referred to in it are guaranteed equally to male and female persons.

MEANWHILE, AT THE UNITED
NATIONS…

While Canada was developing the instruments needed to fulfill its commitment to women, the United Nations - with Canadian participation - were considering the need to put flesh on the bare bones that constituted the General Declaration of 1948, specifically as it pertained to women.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S YEAR AND
THE MEXICO WORLD CONFERENCE - 1975

In 1972 the U.N. chose 1975 as International Women's Year to sensitize the world to the injustices done to women and to coordinate efforts to improve their status. In 1975 the U.N. held a World Conference of Women in Mexico City. There, the U.N. Decade for Women was proclaimed, with "Equality, Development and Peace" as the main objectives. The Declaration of Mexico states that every woman is entitled to dignity and to equality of rights, possibilities and responsibilities. The Mexico Conference recommended that the U.N. adopt a Convention aimed at eradicating discrimination against women.



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