Report

INTRODUCTION

The Canadian Section of ParlAmericas attended the 8^th Annual Gathering of the ParlAmericas’ Group of Women Parliamentarians, entitled Diversifying Political Power to Build Inclusive Societies, held in Quito, Ecuador, from June 1 to 3, 2016. The Canadian parliamentary delegation was led by the Hon. Robert D. Nault, P.C., M.P., who was accompanied by the Hon. Michael L. MacDonald, Senator, Ms. Sheila Malcolmson, M.P., and Mr. Randy Hoback, M.P. The delegation was assisted by Mr. Cédric Taquet, Secretary to the Delegation.

This year’s meeting focused on legislative advances to promote representative parliaments, men’s participation in gender equality work, and advancing indigenous women’s leadership.  The meeting also included a training session on gender and intersectionality in parliamentary work for ParlAmericas’ Anglophone membership. The Gathering was attended by 60 parliamentarians from 29 countries across the hemisphere.

The Group of Women Parliamentarians is the only permanent working group of ParlAmericas. It includes representatives from each of the sub-regions of the Americas: North, Central, South, and the Caribbean. The activities of the Group of Women Parliamentarians strengthen the work of women and men parliamentarians by providing a space to share and exchange experiences and knowledge from a gender equality perspective. Held annually, the Gathering of the ParlAmericas’ Group of Women Parliamentarians continues to steadily grow in popularity.

Meeting with the Canadian Ambassador to Ecuador, Ms. Marianick Tremblay

Prior to attending the official inauguration of the Annual Gathering of the ParlAmericas’ Group of Women Parliamentarians, the members of the Canadian parliamentary delegation met with Ms. Marianick Tremblay, Canadian Ambassador to Ecuador. Ambassador Tremblay briefed the delegation on the state of Canada-Ecuador relations.

THE MEETING

Official Inauguration

The 8th Annual Gathering of the Group of Women Parliamentarians, Diversifying Political Power to Build Inclusive Societies, was opened on June 2, 2016, by Ms. Gina Godoy, Member of the National Assembly of Ecuador and President of the Group of Women Parliamentarians. Senator Marcela Guerra of Mexico and President of ParlAmericas, and Ms. Gabriela Rivadeneira, President of the National Assembly of Ecuador, also delivered opening remarks.

A keynote address was then presented by Ms. Otilia Lux de Coti, Guatemalan social leader and indigenous expert on the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Ms. Otilia Lux de Coti outlined the reality and challenges of indigenous women in Guatemala and South America.

Following the official inauguration, all parliamentarians posed for an official photograph before proceeding to the working group sessions. 

The four working group sessions were organized by different expert presenters and included presentations by Canadian parliamentarian panelists, namely the Hon. Robert D. Nault, P.C., M.P., Chair of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas, and Ms. Sheila Malcolmson, M.P. The presentations by panelists and parliamentarians were followed by facilitated discussions with participants, which included questions and comments. 

Session 1—Legislative advances to promote representative parliaments: feminist perspectives

The first working group session was opened by Tonni Ann Brodber, Caribbean Deputy Representative – UN Women, who introduced the panelists: Wendell Asadang, Member of Parliament (Suriname); Luizianne Lins, Member of the Chamber of Deputies (Brazil); Senator Lisbeth Hernandez Lecona (Mexico); and, Gloria Valerin, former Member of Parliament (Costa Rica). The expert panelists spoke about the reality and challenges of women in their respective countries in terms of gender-based violence, insecurity and discrimination against women and young girls.

Gloria Valerin Rodriguez, Director of the Legislative Division of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica, a former parliamentarian and former Minister of Women’s Affairs, spoke on  the situation of women’s involvement in Costa Rican politics and their presence in parliament. Ms. Rodriguez mentioned the legislative advances to promote a more representative Costa Rican parliament, namely the 1990 law on women’s equality, which requires each party to have  a certain percentage of women.

Member of Parliament Wendell Asadang, from Suriname, mentioned that there is no quota legislation for women parliamentarians in his country. Mr. Asadang presented the situation of women in politics in the last 10 years and the 2015 initiative of the Suriname parliament to boost the number of women parliamentarians, carried out in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme in Latin America and the Caribbean. Mr. Asadang stated that this kind of initiative, which was supported by all political parties, increased the number of women in parliament to 14 members, out of 51, or 27% of the total seats in Suriname’s parliament. 

Luizianne Lins, member of Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies, presented the general situation of women’s involvement in Brazilian politics at the municipal, state and federal levels, the latest legislative initiatives in Brazil regarding feminicide, and the work done by the Comissao Permanente Mista De Combate à Violência Contra a Mulher (Joint Permanent Committee to Fight Violence against Women) in 2015. Ms. Lins also discussed violence against women in Brazil and the particularly difficult situation of women of African descent in Brazilian society today.

Senator Lisbeth Hernandez Lecona, of Mexico, spoke to the participants about women’s rights, gender-based violence, and discrimination in Mexico. Ms. Hernandez Lecona reminded participants that Mexican women have only had the right to vote since 1953, meaning that women in her country have participated in politics and experienced  democracy for just 63 years. She also mentioned that, in 2015, Mexico’s parliament was among the countries with the highest representation of women in parliament, with 42 female members of parliament and senators, and that 29% of the government’s cabinet is composed of female ministers.

After the panelists’ presentations, participants were invited to have round table discussions concerning gender-based violence and discrimination, equal opportunities for women in politics, and legislative initiatives to promote gender equality in their respective countries. Each round table, composed of parliamentarians from various countries of the Americas, selected one parliamentarian to share the results of the discussions at their own round table on the above topics  with the other participants. 

Session 2—Men’s participation in gender equality work

The second working session was moderated by Diego Vintimilla, member of the National Assembly of Ecuador. This working session was an opportunity for male parliamentarians attending the Group of Women Parliamentarians’ meeting to underline the importance of men’s participation in efforts to achieve gender equality in politics and parliaments, and in building more inclusive societies. The panelists included Mr. Marco Aurélio Martins, Brazilian expert on gender equality for ProMundo, a Brazilian non-profit organization that seeks to promote gender equality by engaging men and boys in partnership with women and girls; José Luis Riccardo, member of the Chamber of Deputies of Argentina; Minister Hazel Brandy-Williams, from Saint Kitts and Nevis; and the Hon. Robert D. Nault, P.C., M.P.

The Hon. Robert Nault, P.C., M.P., stated that it is important and generally accepted in Canada that the parliament and the government must reflect its society. Women must be an important part of parliament and government since they form an important part of the Canadian society. The Hon. Robert Nault mentioned that after the previous federal election, only 26% of the seats in the House of Commons were held by women, which was not very high considering the general opinion in Canada that women must play an active part in parliament and government. The new Government of Canada, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, decided to send a strong message on gender equality by appointing Canada’s first federal cabinet comprising equal numbers of women and men: 15 women and 15 men. The Hon. Robert Nault also shared his personal experience as a politician and the importance of having a life partner who agrees to make sacrifices in order for their partner  to be a successful member of parliament and minister, whether they are  a man or a woman. He mentioned that it was  important for him to be a father to his children, and this forced him to leave politics; he decided to return to politics after his children were grown up. He spoke about his personal experience to illustrate how it can be difficult for women and mothers to be members of parliament or in government. Parliaments and governments need to find ways to become more family-friendly, particularly for women. For example, there is currently no Canadian legislation for parental or maternity leave for politicians, or provisions that make it possible for women politicians to vote if they are unable to be in the parliament because they must  care for a sick child or attend medical appointments during pregnancy. The Hon. Robert Nault concluded by informing the audience that the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs is working on initiatives to make the  House of Commons more family-friendly, particularly for women.

Delegation reports on achievements in preventing gender-based political harassment, topic of the 2015 Gathering in Argentina

During this session, delegates from each country had the opportunity to report on progress made in their respective parliaments to end gender-based political harassment. Ms. Sheila Malcolmson, M.P., informed the participants of the situation of women in Canada’s parliament. She mentioned that as a result of the most recent federal general election held on October 19, 2015, 26% of the seats in the House of Commons, or 88 of the 338 seats, are held by women. According to civil society organizations, at this rate it would take 89 years to achieve gender parity in parliament. She explained that Canada’s parliament has not passed legislation to achieve or require gender equality in the House of Commons or Senate. She mentioned that in the Senate, where members are appointed, women hold 36.7% of the seats. She told participants that the newly-elected Prime Minister appointed Canada’s first federal cabinet that has equal numbers of women and men, and that this could make a difference in the perception of gender equality. However, she is still seeking legislation that could bring about permanent change. Ms. Malcolmson informed the audience that Canada’s parliament recent implementation of a range of policies and programs aimed at preventing and addressing harassment within the parliamentary workplace, and the creation of a code of conduct regarding workplace sexual harassment.

Session 3—Advancing indigenous women’s leadership

The third working session was moderated by Senator Maxima Apaza from Bolivia. This working session presented the situation of indigenous women’s leadership in Guyana, Ecuador, and Honduras. The Honourable Valerie Garrido-Lowe, MP and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs from Guyana, talked about the importance of the more than 70,000 indigenous people in Guyana, which represents 11% of the total population, with nine nations, each with their own language, living in more than 200 community villages. According to the last census, the indigenous people are the fastest growing ethnic group in Guyana. Minister Garrido-Lowe mentioned that the second paragraph of Guyana’s Constitution proclaims that the country celebrates its cultural and racial diversity and strengthens its unity by eliminating any and every form of discrimination. Minister Garrido-Lowe informed the audience that, following the last national election, 34% of the seats of the Guyana National Assembly were held by women.

Member of Congress Scherly Arriaga provided an overview of women’s leadership in Honduras. She stated that Honduras is blessed with beautiful landscapes and a rich cultural history, but that 64.5% of the population lives in poverty, 42% lives in extreme poverty, and that Honduras is one of the countries in the Americas with the greatest inequality. Teen pregnancy is a major problem in Honduras. Since 2009, violence has increased in all parts of the country. Most indigenous women live and work in rural areas and representation of indigenous women in parliament is very low. Honduras is struggling to increase the number of women in parliament. Feminicide is on the rise in Honduras, where one woman is murdered every 13 hours. Honduras has been in social and economic turmoil since 2010, and this is a problem with particular consequences for Honduran women. The Honduran parliament introduced reforms of the criminal code in 2013 to reduce gender-based violence and discrimination against women. But Member of Congress Scherly Arriaga stated that the reality is that women in Honduras still face gender-based violence and discrimination every day.

Esthela Acero, Member of the National Assembly and President of the Commission on Indigenous People of Ecuador presented the situation of indigenous women in Ecuador, the role of non-governmental organizations for indigenous women’s rights, and the role of the Ecuador’s Constitution in protecting the rights of indigenous men and women in a country where almost half the population is of indigenous descent.  

Session 4—Policies and reforms to guarantee women’s labour rights

The fourth and final working session was moderated by Carmen Omonte, Member of Congress of Peru and former Minister of Women and Vulnerable Populations. Panelists from Trinidad and Tobago, Mexico, Uruguay and Argentina detailed the situation of women’s employment in their respective countries and shared best policy initiatives to increase women’s participation in the labour force and protect women’s labour rights.

Margarita Stolbizer, Member of the Chamber of Deputies of Argentina, spoke about the increase in women’s participation in the labour market in Argentina over the past 30 years. She indicated that despite this progress women still mostly occupy what she calls “caring professions” and are working as teachers, nurses, secretaries and stylists. These jobs usually have minimal qualifications, are paid less and have less security, with the result that unemployment is higher among women than men and this contributes to the growing wage gap between men and women in Argentina. Women also face discrimination in the labour market given that there is still a perception that they are responsible for household chores and this can impact their ability to work. She concluded by mentioning that parliamentarians have a responsibility to implement public policies and women’s labour rights laws to achieve gender equality in the labour market.

Minister Ayanna Webster-Roy of Trinidad and Tobago presented the situation of women’s labour rights in her country and the important role played by Trinidad and Tobago’s Constitution in protecting these rights and freedoms for women, such as the right to life, liberty, security and equality before the law. She mentioned that the Occupational Health and Safety Act of 2004 guarantees standards for health and safety for employees in the workplace, such as maternity leave for women employees. Unfortunately, women still face sexual violence and sexual harassment in the workplace in Trinidad and Tobago, and incidents are underreported due to  societal shame and the fear of men who are in a position of power in the workplace. It is the responsibility of lawmakers, employers and employees to promote fairness and equality at work, and to send a strong message for a change of behavior in the workplace.

Senator Itzel Sarahi Rios de la Mora of Mexico spoke about the history of women’s rights in the workplace in Mexico. She mentioned that her presence at this gathering was made possible by the efforts of many Mexican women who fought for their rights before her. In Mexico, having more women in the Senate has brought more awareness for women’s rights in the labour market and society in general. Senator Itzel Sahari Rios de la Mora concluded by mentioning that education is a major factor in fighting gender-based discrimination in her country.

Amin Niffouri, Member of the Chamber of Representatives of Uruguay, focused on the importance of gender equality for the greater good of all societies. Although Uruguay has had much success in recent years, the wage gap and inequality in the workplace for women still exist. However, there is a consensus among all political parties for the need to improve women’s labor rights through legislation. Recent advances —for example, up to 14 weeks of maternity leave for women—have been implemented in an effort to reduce discrimination and gender inequality in the workplace. Recent changes to the labour code have also included paid leave for mothers who must care of children with disabilities. Mr. Niffouri concluded by mentioning that women’s labour rights are improving in Uruguay, but that there is much more to do to achieve gender equality in the workplace.

Following the fourth panel, a Declaration of Commitment was read and concurred in by delegates to conclude the 8^th   Annual Gathering of the Group of Women of ParlAmericas. The text of the declaration can be found in Appendix A.

Closing Addresses and Final Remarks

The Gathering of the Group of Women Parliamentarians closed with concluding remarks by Ms. Gabriela Rivadeneira, President of the National Assembly of Ecuador and President of Parlatino; Ms. Gina Godoy, Member of the National Assembly of Ecuador and President of the Group of Women Parliamentarians of ParlAmericas; and, finally, Senator Marcela Guerra, President of ParlAmericas, who thanked the meeting participants and reiterated the importance of advancing in parliaments legislative reforms to facilitate the effective participation of women in politics, gender equality and parity, and women’s labour rights, and to continue dialogue between national parliaments and the exchange of best practices in diversifying political power to build more inclusive societies.

CONCLUSION

The ParlAmericas’ Group of Women Parliamentarians continues to be a strong pillar in the Americas interparliamentary exchanges and the ever-growing rate of attendance and participation at its annual gatherings underscore the importance of gender equality and strengthening the role of women in politics as public policy priorities.

The Canadian parliamentary delegation applauds the leadership of Ms. Gina Godoy and Senator Marcela Guerra in organizing this important and successful conference. The delegation also thanks Ambassador Marianick Tremblay and the Canadian Embassy for its interest and support in this parliamentary activity.

40^th ParlAmericas Board of Directors Meeting

a) Introduction

The ParlAmericas Board of Directors held its 40^th meeting in Quito, Ecuador, at the National Assembly of Ecuador on June 4, 2016. The meeting was chaired by Ms. Marcella Guerra Castillo, Senator of Mexico and President of ParlAmericas. Other participants were:

• Mr. German Alcides Blanco Alvarez, 1st Vice-President, Member of the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia;
• Ms. Gina Godoy, President of the Group of Women Parliamentarians, Member of the National Assembly of Ecuador;
• The Hon. Robert D. Nault, P.C., Member of Parliament of Canada, Chair of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas, representing North America;
• Mr. Randy Hoback, Member of Parliament of Canada, immediate Past President of ParlAmericas, ex officio;
• Ms. Ligia Elena Fallas Rodriguez, Member of the Chamber of Deputies of Costa Rica, representing Central America;
• Ms. Martha Marina Gonzalez Davila, Member of the Chamber of Deputies of Nicaragua, representing Central America;
• Mr. Javier Ortega, Member of the National Assembly of Panama, representing Central America;
• Ms. Gladys Lopez Bejerano, Member of the National Assembly of Cuba, representing the Caribbean region;
• Ms. Saphire Longmore, Senator of Jamaica, representing the Caribbean region;
• Ms. Ayanna Webster-Roy, Member of Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago, representing the Caribbean region;
• Ms. Brigid Annisette-George, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Trinidad and Tobago, representing the Caribbean region;
• Ms. Margarita Stolbizer, Member of the Chamber of Deputies of Argentina, representing South America;
• Mr. Ignacio Urrutia Bonilla, Member of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile, representing South America;
• Mr. Octavio Villacreses Pena, Member of the National Assembly of Ecuador, representing South America; and
• Ms. Alisha Todd, Director General, International Secretariat of ParlAmericas.

Senator Marcela Guerra of Mexico, the President of ParlAmericas, opened the meeting by welcoming the Directors of the Board. She presented the agenda for the meeting, which was adopted, and moved the approval of the minutes of the 39^th Board of Directors meeting, held in Ottawa, Canada, in March 2016. The minutes were approved by the members.

b) President’s report

Senator Marcela Guerra updated the Board of Directors on ParlAmericas’ activities in recent months. She asked Director General Alisha Todd to report on recent meetings with OAS representatives in Washington. After Ms. Todd’s report, Member of the National Assembly of Ecuador Gina Godoy gave an update on the Group of Women Parliamentarians of ParlAmericas. The President of the Open Parliament Network of ParlAmericas and Senator Hernan Larrain of Chile provided an update on the activities of the Open Parliament Network. Ms. Guerra then updated the Board on the next Plenary Assembly of ParlAmericas.

The Hon. Robert Nault, P.C., M.P., updated the Board on the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas. Mr. Nault informed the floor that he and Mr. Hoback, M.P., have been looking into office space for the International Secretariat, based in Ottawa, Canada.

Senator Guerra informed the Board of the composition of the Inter-American Relations Group: Senator Marcela Guerra, President; Representative Germán Blanco, Vice-President; Francisco Guerrero of the OAS, Secretary. Member of Parliament Randy Hoback (Past President), Speaker of the National Assembly of Suriname Jennifer Simons, Member of Parliament Robert Nault, and Member of the Chamber of Deputies Margarita Stolbizer will be members of the Group.

Ms. Guerra concluded by thanking Gina Godoy, Member of the National Assembly of Ecuador, and ParlAmericas’ staff for their hard work on the 8^th Annual Gathering of the Group of Women Parliamentarians of ParlAmericas.

c) International Secretariat Report

Director General of ParlAmericas Alisha Todd presented the budget and asked members of the Board to review the financial information included in their documents.

The members discussed the financial situation of ParlAmericas, membership fees, and participation of members in previous and upcoming meetings.

As the position of Secretary-Treasurer was currently vacant, members of the Board voted unanimously for the Hon. Robert Nault, P.C., M.P. to assume this role. 

Respectfully submitted,