NEWS RELEASE

Canadian parliamentarians participate in the ParlAmericas Inter-Parliamentary Meeting on Gender Equality in Jamaica

Ottawa – An all-party delegation of Canadian parliamentarians participated in the ParlAmericas Inter-Parliamentary Meeting on Gender Equality from 24 to 25 January in Kingston, Jamaica.

The meeting, which brought together lawmakers from the Anglophone Caribbean and Canada, focused on improving gender relations and how parliamentarians can help to build constructive partnerships to eliminate gender inequality. Parliamentarians have a critical role to play in eliminating gender biases when legislating, representing their constituents, and scrutinizing the government’s spending plans.

The Canadian delegation was led by Ms. Joyce Murray, M.P.  She was accompanied by the Hon. Anne Cools, Senator; Mr. Murray Rankin, M.P.; and the Hon. David Wells, Senator.

In addition to hearing about projects to end violence against women and girls, such as Canada’s White Ribbon Campaign, delegates discussed legislative reforms to advanced workplace equality and the importance of involving men as partners to address gender inequality.

“We have made important strides toward achieving gender equality and ending violence against women. We must continue to work together to ensure these injustices become things of the past,” said Ms. Murray.

The ParlAmericas Parliamentary Network for Gender Equality promotes women’s political leadership and the inclusion of gender equality issues at the national legislatures of the Americas and the Caribbean.

Founded 16 years ago in Ottawa, ParlAmericas is the only inter-parliamentary institution with its International Secretariat headquartered in Canada.

Since the beginning, the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas has worked closely with ParlAmericas International to further parliamentary diplomacy and political dialogue across the hemisphere.

To learn more, follow us on our new Twitter account:

Twitter: @ParlDiplomacy

Hashtag: #CPAM

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For information, please contact:

Julian Morelli

(613) 222-6123

bob.nault.a1@parl.gc.ca

Melissa Dawe

(613) 996-1161

bob.nault.a2@parl.gc.ca