2021 Transition binder two: International Engagement

International Engagement

Background

The United Nations (UN) is the main multilateral body responsible for international human rights, including gender equality on a global scale, with the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action of 1995 serving as the guiding global policy framework and blueprint for action in support of equality for women and girls. Canada has a longstanding commitment to supporting gender equality internationally and domestically, including its work with the UN Commission on the Status of Women and UN Women.

Canada’s credibility internationally rests in large part on its domestic work and achievements, which is done in partnership with provinces and territories, Indigenous communities, as well as with Canadian NGOs at home and abroad. WAGE is the federal lead on gender equality and supports Canada’s representation in key international fora and events.

Current Status

WAGE’s international engagement leverages Canada’s strengths to promote Canadian values, facilitate the advancement of gender equality, and support federal and departmental priorities. Its purpose is to effectively advance Canada’s domestic gender equality priorities and demonstrate its leadership internationally through meaningful engagement.

WAGE’s International Engagement Strategy articulates how the Department, through its core engagement with multilateral and regional fora, and in collaboration with key international organizations and bilateral partners, works to advance the domestic gender equality agenda, through three objectives:

1. Fulfill International Obligations and Reporting on Gender Equality:

   WAGE must fulfill Canada’s international obligations and reporting on gender equality and report on commitments (e.g., Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Beijing Declaration for Action and Sustainable Development Goal 5).

2. Advance Canada’s Domestic Gender Equality Priorities and Demonstrate Leadership on Gender Equality:

   As Canada’s national women’s machinery, WAGE demonstrates leadership and influences progress to advance gender equality issues internationally, seeks gender equality research and data and exchanges on best practices through strengthened relationships with key multilateral and regional organizations, as well as through strategic bilateral relations. In doing so, the Department has the ability to build capacity both within government and among domestic civil society organizations to advance gender equality and represent Canada in key international or bilateral meetings with our counterparts in other countries.

3. Support Canada’s Foreign Policy Objectives:

   Collaborate with other federal departments, provincial and territorial governments, and with Canadian civil society to support Global Affairs Canada (GAC) in promoting Canadian values and advancing federal priorities abroad (e.g. negotiating resolutions and agreements to advance gender equality to support broader government priorities).