News
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
'Nothing to Report' for BC women - new report to UN released
The BC CEDAW Group - which includes West Coast LEAF - has released a new report to the UN charging that BC fails to meet international women's rights standards.
In November 2008, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) requested that Canada report back to the Committee within the year on two issues affecting the equality of women and girls: the failure to investigate the cases of missing and murdered Aboriginal women and to correct deficiencies in the system, and social assistance.
While Canada did not fulfill the UN Committee's request for a report until February 11, 2010, the BC CEDAW Group submitted its shadow report to the United Nations on February 2.
"Nothing to Report" is an assessment of how BC has measured up in response to the UN's concerns.
On both issues, the BC CEDAW Group concludes that BC has taken no effective steps to respond to the UN Committee's direction nor has the province urged the federal government to take action.
The BC CEDAW Group is a coalition of BC's women and human rights organizations that has been monitoring the status of women's equality in the province since 2001.
This report was endorsed by a long list of community partners including the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, the BC Federation of Labour and the BC Civil Liberties Association.
For a copy of Nothing to Report, please go here.
For a copy of the United Nations CEDAW 2008 concluding observations on Canada, please go here.
Canada's response to the UN was released on February 11.
