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BPW Canada celebrates 80 years of Women Working for Working Women

As stated by International President, Liz Benham, “It’s been eighty years and we are still here! Over the years, BPW International has been developing the professional, leadership and business potential of women on all levels through advocacy, mentoring, networking, skill building and economic empowerment programs and projects around the world. We are doing something right and will continue to do so! As we celebrate our 80th Anniversary this year I like to think that our Founder, Dr. Lena Madesin Phillips, would be very proud of this attainment! It is quite extraordinary that a woman in the 1930's could create an organization that would have such international strength and impact.” Be sure to purchase your 80th anniversary button at our convention in June.

As a founding member of BPW International, BPW Canada also celebrates its 80th Anniversary. We are privileged to be a member of this great organization in which members across Canada are connected to an extensive network of women in more than 100 countries working to improve economic, political, employment and social conditions for women around the world. It is exciting to be involved in international activities and exchange ideas with like-minded women as we realize that many of the issues for women are similar. Each year in February, we celebrate together through our Candlelighting Ceremony, symbolizing the spirit we share with our sister clubs around the world and exchange greetings with clubs in other countries. Since 1980, BPW International has supported projects worldwide to help women through our Project Five-0 program. As well, we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8th and send a delegation of members to New York to participate in the annual meetings of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations. By joining BPW Canada, you can be part of this large network of women working to create a better future for women and girls around the world.

54th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW54): March 1 – 12, 2010

A record number of NGOs attended the CSW meeting this year as the focus was on the accomplishments over the last 15 years and the challenges in the future. It has been 15 years since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action at the Fourth World Conference on Women. CSW focused on assessing what has been achieved since the Beijing Conference and outlining priority actions going forward. The Commission discussion the following four areas or priority importance to women:

• Maternal mortality
• Violence against women
• Role of women in decision-making
• New gender entity

In addition, there were nearly 100 side events. BPW International sponsored workshops for Life Long Learning Program included Empowerment Tools and Emotional Intelligen, Equal PayDay and Diversity. A detailed report is available on the BPW International website.

Reception hosted by Canadian Ambassador to the UN - John McNee (far left in photo). Others in the photo: Doris Hall, Helene Guergis - Minister for the Status of Women, Jill Worobec - Regional Co-ordinator of North America and the non-Spanish Speaking Countries of the Caribbean and Gerlinde Sarkar - BPW Saskatoon.	Doris Hall, Sue Calhoun and Gerlinde Sarkar

For more photos for the 54th CSW click here.

53rd CSW Meetings at United Nations in New York

At the 53rd session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in 2009, BPW members participated in the Gender Budgeting Discussion Panel, Equal Pay Day Workshop and the launch of the BPW International Equal Pay Day Awareness Campaign. Also BPW proudly hosted the Inaugural Claire Fulcher Dinner in honour of Claire’s many years of service to BPW International as one of our permanent representatives at the UN. International President Liz Benham also hosted the first Presidents’ Seminar. This annual two-day event connected clubs around the world, with 28 countries represented.

Canada's Permanent Mission to the UN held a reception for the Canadian NGO's. From left, Jill Worobec (BPWI Regional Coordinator, North America); Niki Ashton (BPW Manitoba), also MP for Churchill and was part of the government delegation; Sue Calhoun (BPW Canada President); and Doris Hall (BPW Canada 1st VP).		BPWI International held a reception for BPW Canada's delegation on the first evening in New York. From left, Lisa Dare (BPW Calgary); Mary Ozcan (BPW Montreal); Freda Miriklis (2nd VP, BPWI); Sue Calhoun (BPW Canada President); Liz Benham (BPWI President); Gabriella Canonica (BPWI 1st VP); Kathryn Munn (back, BPW London); Doris Hall (BPW Canada 1st VP) and Dawn Nasson (BPW Calgary).

BPW International Congress June 17-21, 2011 Helsinki, Finland

Be a part of BPW Canada’s delegation at the next Congress in Helsinki, Finland in 2011, and experience the international flavour of BPW. Our representation has been strong in the last several congresses, and we hope it continues. View the BPW International website to see the gorgeous, water front facility where the congress will be held in Helsinki.

Site for BPWI Congress in Helsinki, 2011

In 2014, the Congress will be held in Korea on the beautiful island of Jeju, which features natural beauty and subtropical forests. Start saving now to enjoy the opportunity to visit these spectacular places!

Site for BPWI Congress in South Korea, 2014

At the last few congresses, BPW Canada has been successful in having resolutions passed by the delegates. If a club has an issue that requires international focus, it is necessary to have it accepted by the national delegates at our BPW Canada convention in 2010, so start preparing now.

Wage Gap Report 2008

The World Economic Forum has released its 2008 Gender Gap Report, with 130 countries ranked. The gap index measures "gender-based inequalities on economic, political, education and health-based criteria" and is "designed to measure gender-based gaps in access to resources and opportunities." Canada has dropped from 18th place in 2007 to 31st in 2008.

Equal Pay-Day at the UN

BPW International continues to support “Equal Pay Day” for women around the world and encourages member countries to hold an “Equal Pay Day”. BPW Germany and BPW Australia have held a national day to recognize the wage gap. The gender pay gap represents the difference between the average hourly pay for women and men before taxes across the economy as a whole. It reflects ongoing discrimination and inequality in the labour market, which mainly affects women. International President Liz Benham encourages all affiliates to start a campaign of awareness and lobbying to close the still existing pay gap between men and women. ‘Equal pay for work of equal value’ is at the heart of the campaign to raise awareness of the pay gap, its causes, and what to do about it.

Regional Co-ordinator of North America and the non-Spanish Speaking Countries of the Caribbean

GEAR UP! (Gender Equality Architecture Reform (GEAR)

The Gender Equality Architecture Reform (GEAR) Campaign, a network of over 300 women’s, human rights and social justice groups around the world urges UN Member States and the UN Secretariat to move swiftly forward to create the new UN gender equality entity. GEAR also urges the UN to set up a transparent process now for recruiting the best qualified Under Secretary-General to head this agency. On the 15th anniversary of the historic Beijing World Conference on Women, the United Nations must move without further delay to implement changes that it has repeatedly recognized as critical to fulfilling its mandate of working for gender equality as a crucial component of development, human rights, peace, and security.

The resolution should give the new women’s agency responsibility for leadership and coordination of the UN system’s actions on gender equality and women’s empowerment both in the policy arena and at the operational level. This requires both holding the UN system accountable for gender mainstreaming and engaging in its own work on women’s rights and empowerment at all levels.

A clear programmatic mandate and substantial operational capacity are crucial for the entity to be effective in delivering for women at the national level. Member states must support the principle of a universal mandate to address women’s empowerment in all countries and strategic operational presence at the country level. The Under Secretary-General appointed to head this agency should be provided with delegated authority on financial matters and human resources in order to operate effectively at the country level.

To enable the entity to be effective, member states should pledge core, predictable, and multi-year voluntary funds now. The US $500 million proposed in the UN Secretary-General’s comprehensive proposal of January 2010 (A/64/588) can only be understood as resources for the initial phase. A commitment to grow to $US1 billion and beyond over time is essential; One billion represents less than 0.5% of the expenses of all UN agencies in 2008. This is not a case of allocating small change. All governments need to step up now and put money where their mouths are. For the women and girls living below the poverty line, every dollar counts.

The new institution needs to streamline the UN's gender work in order to make real progress for women and girls. Governments have signed the deal last year, but it's not sealed yet. We are still waiting for key decisions. This new entity is a huge step forward for women. Keep checking the BPW International for updates on appointment of the Under Secretary for GEAR and the progress of GEAR of the campaign.

PROJECT FIVE-O

Changes in the organization of Project Five-O sponsors

In 1980, five of the world’s largest and most influential women’s organizations came together with a mission to provide vocational training for poor women in developing countries. The group, including BPW International, the International Federation of University Women, the International Council of Women, Soroptimist International and Zonta International, launched Project Five-O at the second World Conference for Women in Copenhagen. Its purpose was and still is to use the skills and expertise of the members of the participating organizations to provide training courses in income-generating skills, accompanied by training in health, nutrition, hygiene, child care and literacy. Visit www.project-five-o.orgfor more information. Unfortunately, Soroptimist, Zonta and University Women have withdrawn from this project, leaving only BPW International and International Council of Women. BPWI President Liz Benham is looking for new partners.

The BPW International Newsletter is available at www.bpw-international.org/publications/library-international-newsletters.htm.

• The United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1979, and 185 countries, including Canada, have ratified the Treaty for the Rights of Women. The treaty, unfortunately, has no enforcement authority to the United Nations or any other body. That’s why it is important for BPW Canada, as a non-governmental organization representing women, to keep reminding our government of its obligations under CEDAW and pressuring them to fulfill those obligations. For more information and to keep up-to-date, visit the CEDAW site at www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/

International Federation of BPW Women
http://www.bpw-international.org/