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As a member of the International Federation of Business & Professional Women (www.bpw-international.org/), BPW Canada and its members are part of an extensive network of women in more than 100 countries working to improve economic, political, employment and social conditions of women world-wide. Our international work is a very important and very exciting part of what BPW Canada is all about. In February of each year, clubs hold a beautiful Candle-lighting Ceremony, symbolizing the spirit we share with our sister clubs around the world. On March 8th, we celebrate International Women's Day. BPW Canada also participates in our international delegation each February-March to the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations in New York. By joining BPW Canada, you, too, can be part of this large network of women who are working to improve the lives of girls and women around the world.

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

Message from BPWI President Liz Benham: Dear BPW Presidents and Members, We are pleased to inform you that pre-registration for the 54th session of the Commission on the Status of Women 2010 is now open. The 15th Anniversary of the Beijing Conference is an important milestone in the history of the women's movement.   UN Commission on the Status of Women will be held from 1st - 12th March in New York.  Given the significance of the CSW54 as well as 15th anniversary of the Beijing World Conference on Women, we are expecting up to 10,000 participants attending next year's CSW events! Click here to read Liz's full report, with more detail about how to register. Click here to view the CSW54 Schedule. Visit the BPWI site for the registration form and more details.

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).

The 54th sessionof the Commission on the Status of Women will be held at the United Nations in New York from March 1-12, 2010. BPW Canada members who wish to attend will need to register and receive a Letter of Accreditation to be part of our BPW International delegation. Please go to the BPWI sitefor the latest news on the CSW. BPW Canada President Sue Calhoun will be leading the delegation from our country, and Doris Hall will be coordinating the trip. Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to make sure that you are on the list to attend. Your request for accreditation must be received by the International President’s office no later than December 31, 2009. Detailed information required to obtain a letter will be sent in the fall. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The Presidents’ seminar will be held on February 25th and 26th, 2010.

Please review the information on the international website to gain a better understanding of the function of the Commission on the Status of Women, and be inspired to get involved at UN CSW54 in 2010!

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

At the UN this year, BPW International co-hosted a workshop on pay equity with the Permanent Mission of Germany titled “Equal Pay Day”. The workshop was convened by BPW Germany. The gender pay gap represents the difference between the average hourly pay for women and men before taxex across the economy as a whole. It reflects ongoing discrimination and inequality in the labour market, which mainly affects women. International President of BPW Liz Benham announced that BPW, through it affiliates in close to 80 countries, will start an awareness and lobbying campaign 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 how to tackle it.

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

Meet the new Regional Co-ordinator, Past President of BPW Canada, Jill Worobec (BPW Coquitlam) who is busy arranging for the next regional conference. Several countries are interested in hosting, and Jill is working out the details in order to make a decision where it will be held in the fall of 2010. Visit Jill’s website.

GEAR UP! (Gender Equality Architecture Reform (GEAR)

Following the CSW meetings in New York 2009, the co-chairs of the GEAR campaign held a series of informal consultations to further discuss the structural details of the proposed entity.  Many countries welcomed the Secretariat paper and specifically expressed support for the Composite model; however, a significant number of countries still expressed the need for substantive details and an analysis of many of the issues.  Stay tuned to this page for updates as the discussion continues. 

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/