Why do we need gender balanced governments?
While women have made gains over the past twenty years, progress has been slow. The numbers of women elected to the House of Commons has hovered around the 20% mark since 1993. Women are 52% of Canada’s population and make up an average of 21% of Canada’s municipal councils, provincial legislatures and the House of Commons.
Canada’s international ranking on women’s political representation, has fallen to 50th in the world. Despite enjoying economic prosperity and political stability, Canada now has fewer women elected than most of Europe, parts of Africa, and Australia (see the Interparliamentary Union’s web site for a full listing.)
Polling data consistently demonstrates women care about different issues. The United Nations has emphasized that equality in decision-making is essential to the empowerment of women, noting a critical mass is needed before legislatures produce public policy representing women’s concerns.
Equal Voice aims to increase awareness about the need for gender balanced government.
LINKS
Equal Voice
Equal Voice has a new and innovative program, Advancing Young Women in Democratic Life full of resources to discuss in the classroom.
Equal Voice Experiences
Experiences is a mentorship program that aims to engage girls and young women in learning and thinking about the impact of politics on their lives and how they might become involved.
Doris Anderson Fund
Doris Anderson was a champion of getting a proportional representation system to allow more women to get elected. Equal Voice has just launched the Doris Anderson Fund. See what she had to say about this in the last speech she gave on the subject.
