October 22, 2007
On Oct 18th, 1929, Five Alberta women challenged the Queen's Privy Council in England to rule against the discriminatory principle in the British North America Act which stated that Canadian women were not persons. (only men were), and as such, were not allowed to become Senators.
This meant that women were legally denied access to a key political institution.
“The Famous Five”, as they came to be known, won the case when the Queen's Privy Council ruled that women were Persons under the law.
Oct 18th is now marked in Canada as Persons Day, an important milestone in women's struggle for equality.
I was the Secretary of State for Status of Women when we permanently commemorated Persons Day by erecting five statues on Parliament Hill depicting the women celebrating the occasion by drinking tea (which they actually did).
This was the first time that statues of citizens were erected on Parliament Hill, an honour hitherto only accorded to Prime Ministers and Royalty.
It was another milestone.
The last 100 years are dotted with milestones that mark the irrevocable march of Canadian women toward equality: always spearheaded by vocal women -- citizens who advocated unceasingly for women’s civil rights.
The vote, the right to work, equal rights enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, employment equity, maternity benefits…all hard won by ordinary citizens.
Internationally, Canada was also at the forefront of women's rights; lobbying hard at the 1995 UN Beijing conference that women's rights be declared human rights, decrying honour killings, denouncing the sale in marriage of young girls; speaking against female genital mutilation, advocating for the advancement of lesbian rights, women's reproductive rights and valuing unpaid work.
The list is long.
Over my 13 years in Liberal governments (including six years as Minister for Status of Women), we worked with NGOs around the world and at home to advance the human rights of women. We were the country that devised the process of "gender based analysis", using solid research to track the effects of policy and legislation on women's equality, and were the only country to admit refugee women on the basis of family and societal violence.
Canada has been a leader in championing women's rights because we have always valued the advocacy of women in the non-governmental sector, funding them to do their important work to raise awareness of the challenges that women still face.
Today, under this Conservative government, women's NGOs who strive for equality and social justice are no longer funded.
The Harper Conservatives removed the word “equality" from the mandate of Status of Women Canada.
Now, groups that advocate on behalf of vulnerable women are not eligible for funding.
The voices of women have been silenced.
Three weeks ago, women's organisations like NAWL (The National Association of Women and the Law) who, through advocacy work, pushed into law the Rape Shield amendment (“No Means No”) that to this day serves as an example to the international community of Canada's progressive case law. NAWL is being forced to close their doors because they were “advocates” and therefore no longer eligible for funding.
Last year, the Conservative government also cancelled the Liberal-initiated Court Challenges Program, which gave minority groups and women access to the courts.
Canadian women are now denied access to justice.
Surreptitiously, slowly and quietly, social justice and equality for women and minorities has been undermined.
No one notices. Few are aware. A society is changed…by stealth.
…while the band plays on.
|
