Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU)

On April 21, 2021, the Hon. Salma Ataullahjan, Senator, chaired a meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on gender-sensitive parliaments and gender-responsive legal reforms. The Hon. Kim Pate, Senator, Ms. Iqra Khalid, MP, Ms. Yasmin Ratansi, MP, and Ms. Lindsay Mathyssen, MP, also attended the meeting, which was moderated by Ms. Sandra Pepera of the National Democratic Institute. In her opening remarks, Senator Ataullahjan noted that the theme of the session was of the utmost importance since crises are never gender neutral and often exacerbate existing inequalities. She also emphasized the important role the world’s parliamentarians can play in ensuring that their respective countries adopt a gender-sensitive response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, she observed that any response to the pandemic that does not consider gender equality will not be sustainable.

During the meeting, Canadian delegates heard from Ms. Esther Anyakun (MP, Uganda), Ms. Beatrice Duncan (UN Women), Ms. Zeina Hilal (manager of gender partnerships and youth participation at the IPU), Ms. Nahla Haidar (UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women), and Ms. Fiona O’Loughlin (Senator, Ireland). They also heard from their Asian, African, European and South American colleagues about measures being debated and implemented in their parliaments.

This meeting was the last of a series entitled “Inter-Parliamentary Dialogue on Gender-Responsive Recovery Post COVID-19.”

The Honourable David McGuinty, P.C., M.P., President of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU) and the IPU Executive Committee Vice-President for the Twelve Plus geopolitical group, participated in the sixth online sitting of the 285th session of the International Executive Committee which took place on April 19, 2021. The meeting provided the members with an opportunity to share their views about the IPU’s strategy for 2022–2026 as well as items pertaining to the future business of the Executive Committee.

On 14 April 2021, the Hon. Salma Ataullahjan, Senator, the Hon. Kim Pate, Senator, Ms. Iqra Khalid, MP, and Ms. Yasmin Ratansi, MP, attended a meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on violence against women and girls. The session was moderated by former Canadian MP, Ms. Paddy Torsney, P.C., Permanent Observer of the IPU to the United Nations (UN). Participants described violence against women and girls as a shadow pandemic which has been intensified by the current global health crisis, in part due to the reduction in services and supports available to women. It was noted that the COVID-19 pandemic is threatening the progress made towards gender equality and that violence against women and girls is itself rooted in gender inequality

During the meeting, Canadian delegates were able to hear from parliamentarians from Bangladesh, Bahrain, the Philippines, Syria, Tanzania, Turkey, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Azerbaijan, Fiji, Nicaragua, Benin, Madagascar and Ecuador, and from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean. The UN Under-Secretary-General, Ms. Pramila Patten, addressed participants through a pre-recorded video. Dr. Dubravka Šimonovic (UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women), Dr. Giovanna Lauro (vice president of Programs and Research at Promundo) and Mr. Khamsavath Chanthavysouk (policy specialist at UN Women) also made presentations.

This meeting was the second of a series entitled “Inter-Parliamentary Dialogue on Gender-Responsive Recovery Post COVID-19.”

In her capacity as President of the Committee on Middle East Questions of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Honourable Senator Salma Ataullahjan chaired a virtual meeting of the committee on April 14, 2021. The session offered members a timely opportunity to discuss the many developments that have taken place in the region since the committee last met in July 2020. As per its mandate, the committee focuses on tracking and supporting the peace process between Israel and Palestine, as well as peace, security and dialogue through the region. It will report on its activities at the next meeting of the Governing Council taking place virtually at the end of May 2021 as part of the IPU’s 142nd Assembly.

The 142nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) took place for the first time in virtual format. Over 750 parliamentarians from over 130 member parliaments debated the overall theme, “Overcoming the pandemic today and building a better tomorrow: the role of parliaments.” They also adopted two resolutions proposed by the Standing Committee on Peace and International Security as well as the Standing Committee on Sustainable Development, elected new officers to various positions and participated in meetings of different subsidiary bodies among other agenda items.

The Honourable David McGuinty, P.C., M.P., President of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Executive Committee Vice-President for the Twelve Plus geopolitical group, participated in the fifth online sitting of the 285th session of the International Executive Committee which took place on April 9, 2021. Members discussed a number of issues relating to the situations in some IPU member parliaments and their implications for these member parliaments’ participation in the organization.

On April 7, 2021, the Hon. Salma Ataullahjan, Senator, the Hon. Kim Pate, Senator, Ms. Iqra Khalid, MP, and Ms. Yasmin Ratansi, MP, attended a meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on women’s economic empowerment during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Senator Ataullahjan highlighted that Canadian women have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. She also noted that the Government of Canada recently launched a “Feminist Response and Recovery Fund” to support women and girls impacted by this crisis. For her part, Ms. Khalid explained that the pandemic raises questions of physical and financial security for women.

During the meeting, Canadian delegates were able to hear from and exchange with parliamentarians from Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Ireland, Cyprus, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, Madagascar, Seychelles, Montenegro, and Fiji. Panellists from the World Economic Forum, UN Women, Oxfam Great Britain and the Equal Pay International Coalition also made presentations. Panellists and parliamentarians discussed the unique ways in which this global crisis is affecting women and girls, as well as the various measures that have been taken – or that need to be taken – by governments.

This meeting was the first of a series entitled “Inter-Parliamentary Dialogue on Gender-Responsive Recovery Post COVID-19.”

On March 24, 2021, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) hosted a virtual event titled “We Have Your Back” - Breaking the cycle from online harassment to threats to violence against women and girl leaders, as a side event to the United Nations’ 65th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. The Government of Canada was one of twelve event co-sponsors. During the discussion, panelists explained how social media platforms and digital spaces are being used to harass women and girl leaders, in some cases starting a cycle of behaviour that escalates to threats and acts of violence.

Presenters emphasized the gendered treatment of parliamentarians and other public figures online, noting that women face a higher degree of personal abuse and aggressive behaviour. As many presenters observed, beyond negatively impacting the lives of those who are targeted, online harassment undermines democracy and limits free speech by discouraging women and girls from being politically active.

The honourable Dr. Hedy Fry, PC, MP participated in a panel of parliamentarians sharing their experiences of, and opinions on, online harassment. In her remarks, Dr. Fry highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the growing trend of gender-based harassment and violence and spoke about the actions Canada is taking to address the issue domestically and internationally. The honourable Donna Dasko, Senator, attended the event on behalf of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU).