Violence and Harassment Against Female Politicians 2020

Category:

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS

Sub-Category:

GENERAL

Resolution Number:

300.10.37

Club:

Trenton & District

Background:

BACKGROUND: Gender-based violence towards female politicians happens at all levels of government and is the result of deep-rooted prejudice and structural inequality. Sexism, harassment, and violence towards female politicians is widespread throughout the world. Women in high ranking positions are more likely to be targets of incivility. Sexism and gender-based violence may negatively impact women’s desire to enter politics and undermine female politicians’ dignity and fundamental rights in a place where gender equality and inclusion should be present. Working women from diverse backgrounds, including racialized women, Indigenous women, women who are transgender, and women with disabilities, may face additional barriers to entering electoral politics, meaning that these groups are excluded in decision-making processes. The Vecchio Report (2019) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union Report (2019) provided data about gender-based violence towards female politicians and made recommendations and strategies to eliminate violence towards female politicians. Committees and Task Forces of the Government of Canada which address gender equality and women’s issues should be tasked to use these and other relevant documents to reduce gender-based violence against female politicians.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW Canada) urges the Government of Canada, specifically the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, and the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Development, to use the Vecchio Report (2019): Elect Her. A Roadmap Improving the Representation of Women in Canadian Politics Report of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women and the 2019 Inter-Parliamentary Union’s Guidelines for the Elimination of Sexism, Harassment and Violence Against Women in Parliament to create policies to ensure a gender sensitive and safe workplace by addressing discriminatory barriers such as race, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and disabilities;

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that BPW Canada urges the Government of Canada, specifically the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, and the Minister of Gender Equality, to provide recommendations to political parties on how they can improve their recruitment of women candidates, including those from diverse backgrounds who may face discriminatory barriers such as race, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and disabilities;
AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that BPW Canada urges the Government of Canada, specifically the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, and the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, to develop an annual reporting system for all political parties to ensure compliance with these policies that have been created.