Because of persistently high levels of gender-based violence, because women are still being sterilized without their consent, because of the gender wage gap and lack of economic security for women and non-binary people… we need all candidates in the October federal election to discuss women’s rights and gender equality issues.
In 2015, Amnesty International was part of a coalition that advocated for such a debate. But not all parties were willing to participate in a debate on issues directly impacting half of Canada’s population. In fact, the last federal leader’s debate on women’s rights and gender equality issues was 35 years ago!
When you engage with federal election candidates in your riding, let them know what gender equality is not yet a reality and we demand that the issues impacting women and non-binary people in Canada be directly addressed in the federal election campaign.
What are the three key things we’re asking for?
- Commit to a federal leader’s debate on women’s rights and gender equality issues
- Commit to concrete action to end violence against Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit persons
- Commit to action to end sterilization of Indigenous women without their consent
Where can I learn about the issues?
What can I do?
- Raise these three key issues (and others – there’s no shortage of issues to raise!) in your interactions with candidates. Suggestions are in the toolkit.
- Sign the online petition calling on federal party leaders to commit to a nationally televised debate on women’s rights and gender equality issues
- Sign the online petition calling on all federal election candidates to commit to concrete action to end violence against Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit persons
- Sign the online petition calling for concrete action to end sterilization of Indigenous women without their consent
