The History of GBA - Domestic and International Milestones
Setting the Stage (1995 - 2001)
From 1995 until 2001 Canada built on its commitments to women's equality and began the shift to gender equality to address issues of diversity between and among Canadian women and men. This is where the use of GBA to accomplish the goals of gender equality began to emerge.
Three major events contributed to the implementation of GBA across government:
- 1995 Beijing Platform for Action (PFA) - first global declaration of GBA as the tool for gender mainstreaming;
- 1995 Federal Plan for Gender Equality - Canada's contribution to the PFA, committing to the implement of GBA throughout federal departments and agencies; and,
- 2000 Agenda for Gender Equality (AGE) - following the completion of the Federal Plan, the AGE was a five year government-wide strategy to accelerate the implementation of GBA.
1995 - Beijing Platform for Action
The fourth United Nations World Conference on Women was held in Beijing in September 1995. Member countries adopted a program aimed at accelerating progress toward equality between women and men, often referred to as the Beijing Platform for Action.
The Beijing Platform for Action required that all member states develop a concept for the implementation of gender mainstreaming as part of their national strategies and "seek to ensure that before policy decisions are taken, an analysis of their impact on women and men, respectively, is carried out."
Canada joined the consensus in adopting the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action, with its commitment to the Beijing Platform for Action outlined in the Federal Plan for Gender Equality.
1995 - Federal Plan for Gender Equality
In preparation for the Women's World Conference in Beijing, the Government of Canada developed Setting the Stage for the Next Century: The Federal Plan for Gender Equality (1995-2000), which outlined Canada's commitment to implementing gender-based analysis in policies, programs and legislation.
The Federal Plan for Gender Equality sets out a systematic approach to gender equality for Canada. The plan's objectives were to:
- implement GBA throughout federal departments and agencies;
- improve women's economic autonomy and well being as well as women's physical and psychological well being;
- reduce violence in society, particularly violence against women and children;
- promote gender equality in all aspects of Canada's cultural life;
- incorporate women's perspectives in governance;
- promote and support global gender equality; and,
- advance gender equality for employees of federal departments and agencies.
2000 - Agenda for Gender Equality
Following the culmination of the five year plan set out in the 1995 Federal Plan for Gender Equality, the Government of Canada adopted a new plan in 2000: the Agenda for Gender Equality (AGE).
The AGE was a five year government-wide strategy to accelerate the implementation of GBA, meet international commitments and treaty obligations, engage Canadians in the policy process, enhance voluntary sector participation in support of achieving gender equality, and engendering policies and programs.
The AGE was led by Status of Women Canada, in cooperation with three other federal departments: Health Canada, the Department of Justice Canada and Human Resources Development Canada.
2002 - CEDAW Optional Protocol
Canada acceded to the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 2002, demonstrating its commitment to the promotion of gender equality and fundamental human rights for women domestically and internationally. The Optional Protocol is a human rights treaty that enhances the CEDAW Committee's ability to oversee compliance with the Convention.
