International Travel Final Report Honourable Stephanie McLean, Minister of Service Alberta and Status of Women Mission to 62 nd Annual Meeting of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW62) March 11-14, 2018 Overview: The UNCSW is the principal global intergovernmental/international body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. The annual meetings shape the global standards on gender equality and commit nations, including Canada, to agreed-upon goals for the upcoming year and beyond. Through participation in sessions, events and meetings with federal, provincial, and territorial (FPT) ministers, the attendance of the Minister and Minister s Chief of Staff demonstrated Alberta s strong commitment to the promotion and advancement of the status of women and strategically positioned Alberta to engage in important future discussions with the federal government and other provincial and territorial governments. Alberta s delegation also had the unique opportunity to learn from international non-governmental organizations and officials from around the globe. Prior to travel, discussions with key stakeholders revealed the unique barriers rural Alberta women experience with respect to economic security, safety, and the ability to be at the decision-making table because of their geographic location. The mission was successful in meeting its objectives, as outlined below. Mission Objectives: 1. To learn about other countries initiatives and innovative practices and possibly initiate collaborative partnerships on joint priority areas. 2. To participate in key strategic events organized by Canada, for example, expert panel discussions, theme area expert presentations, and high level discussions among key officials. 3. To gather intelligence on key issues and forge strategic alliances amongst FPT colleagues that will advance Alberta s agenda on women s equality issues. Results: The Government of Alberta s International Strategy Objectives that the mission supported: Build Alberta s reputation as a global citizen. Prioritize government actions to take advantage of international opportunities. The following Outcomes were identified in advance of attending UNCSW62: Enhanced understanding leading to action of the challenges and opportunities in achieving gender equality and empowerment of rural women and girls (the priority theme of UNCSW62) and participation in and access of women to the media, and
Page 2 information and communications technologies and their impact on and use as an instrument for the advancement and empowerment of women (the review theme from the 47 th Session). Build strong relationships with FPT colleagues leading to action across Canada that advances gender equality. Showcase Alberta Status of Women s work and advance Alberta s agenda with other federal, provincial and territorial ministers. Alberta s voice and presence at the principal global intergovernmental/international body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women leading to increased awareness of Alberta s leadership on gender equality. Table 1 shows the activities/events that were attended, and the outcomes (in italics) to which they contributed. Table 1: Results Date Activity/Event Outcome March 12, 2018 UNCSW62 Official Session Enhanced understanding leading to action of the challenges and opportunities in achieving gender equality and empowerment of rural women and girls (priority theme of UNCSW62) Alberta officials took away valuable learnings of challenges and opportunities for empowering rural women and girls all over the world. For example, in countries not as economically advantaged as those in North America, women will pursue employment in areas where they would experience a greater return on their training investment, such as Information Technology (IT), rather than pursuing an area of particular interest. In India, women see the IT sector as providing economic stability by paying higher wages and women are paid the same as men. Side Events sponsored by Canada Canada held a session on Barriers to Justice for Indigenous women and girls. This allowed Minister to learn from panelists in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. about the issue of violence against Indigenous women and girls in the context of rural remoteness and urban disconnectedness.
Date Activity/Event Outcome Ministerial Segment: Good Practices in the empowerment of rural women and girls, including prevention of gender-based violence, and through access to justice, social services and health care March 13, 2018 Interactive Dialogue: Building Alliances to achieve gender equality and empower rural women and girls Side Events Sponsored by Canada Page 3 Enhanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities in achieving empowerment of women and girls by the sharing and exploration of the best practices in countries around the world. Minister engaged in roundtable discussions surrounding best practices on achieving gender equality for rural women and girls, based around the idea of preventing gender based violence and through access to justice, social services and health care. Strong relationships with FPT colleagues leading to action across Canada that advances gender equality. Specifically, enhanced relationships with ministers and officials from the attending provinces and the federal minister and federal officials. Enhanced relationships allow the Alberta Minister to more easily intervene and advocate for Alberta s position during FPT and bilateral meetings with FPT colleagues. Alberta s strengthened relationship with the Yukon, host of this year s FPT forum, is evident in the Yukon s request for Alberta to provide unconscious bias training to territorial staff. Alberta s voice and presence at the principal global intergovernmental/ international body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women leading to increased awareness of Alberta s leadership on gender equality. The Alberta Minister had the opportunity to meet formally and informally with colleagues from across Canada and also international colleagues. This provided a unique opportunity to informally present Alberta s policies and programs related to achieving gender equality to others. Although Alberta did not organize a formal working or learning session, the stage has been set for a future opportunity.
Date Activity/Event Outcome March 14, 2018 General Discussion on participation in and access of women to media and information, communications technologies and their impact on and use as an instrument for advancement and empowerment of women (review theme) Page 4 Enhanced understanding of how access to internet and communications technologies can lead to empowerment and gender equality for rural women and girls. Minister had the opportunity to learn about the use of internet and communication technologies to advance rural women and girls across the world. As Minister of Service Alberta, Minister was in a position to leverage items advanced in this portfolio, such as rural internet. Access to high-speed internet is an essential service and critical to support rural Albertans, specifically women, to access information, and supports and services. Delegation: Tara Ward, Minister s Chief of Staff Final Itinerary: Please see Attachment 1. Significant Speeches/Presentations No major speeches or presentations were made by Minister McLean. News Releases/Communiques March 9, 2018: Advancing Women s Equality Globally. Please see Attachment 2.
Page 5 International Travel Final Expenses (Part of the Final International Travel Report and posted as part of this Report as well as posted separately on the same site to ensure expenses are visible on the main page of the link) Expenditures by Participants Amount Travel (airfare + ground transportation) $2125.52 Accommodation $2181.02 Meals $879.54 Incidental and Miscellaneous $120.90 Sub-total $5306.98 General Mission Expenditures Receptions and Hosting Incidental and Miscellaneous Amount Sub-Total Total Costs $5306.98
Page 6 PROPOSED ITINERARY FOR ALBERTA DELEGATION United Nations Commission on the Status of Women - UNCSW62 New York, March 11-14, 2018 Sat, March 11 FLIGHT TO NY Minister Stephanie McLean and Chief of Staff Tara Ward travel to New York City. - Same flight Tara Ward is leaving from Edmonton, and Minister McLean is catching the same flight in Calgary. MINISTER S FLIGHT ITINERARY: 7:55 AM: Minister arrives at the Calgary International Airport 2 hours in advance of their international flight to the New York JFK Airport 9:55 AM: Airplane departs the Calgary International Airport 4:22 PM: Minister arrives at the New York JFK Airport CHIEF OF STAFF S FLIGHT ITINERARY 5:30 AM: Tara arrives at the Edmonton International Airport 2 hours in advance of their international flight to the New York JFK Airport 7:30 AM: Airplane departs the Edmonton International Airport (stops in Calgary at 8:29 AM and leaves Calgary at 9:55 am) 4:22 PM: Tara arrives at the New York JFK Airport Check into the Hotel Delegation registers at UN on March 11 or morning of March 12.
Page 7 Mon, March 12 10:00 AM 1:00 PM 3:00 PM 4:15 PM Opening of the session Election of officers (Item 1) Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters (Item 2) Introduction of documents (Item 3 as a whole) General discussion (Item 3) Follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and to the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, identifying goals attained, achievements made and efforts under way to close gaps and meet challenges in relation to the priority theme and the review theme. SIDE EVENT: Barriers to Justice for Indigenous Women and Girls This event will feature panelists from Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. to speak on the issue of violence against indigenous women and girls in the context of rural remoteness and urban disconnectedness. Partners: CIRNA, Mexico and the U.S. will participate Location: Canadian Permanent Mission to the UN 3:00 PM 6:00 PM Ministerial segment: 4 Ministerial Round Tables on the priority theme: Challenges and opportunities in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls (in two parallel meetings) (Each one is only 1.5 hours decide to go at either 3:00 4:30 PM or 4:30 to 6:30 PM) Topic B: Good practices in the empowerment of rural women and girls, including through prevention of gender-based violence and through access to justice, social services and health care
Page 8 Tues, March 13 10:00 AM 1:00 PM General discussion (Item 3) (continued) in parallel with: High-level interactive dialogue among Ministers on the priority theme Building alliances to achieve gender equality and empower rural women and girls 11:30 AM 1:30 PM 3:00 PM 4:15 PM SIDE EVENT: Violence Knows No Borders: Intersections of Violence Against Women and Children This event aims to raise awareness about the latest data on sexual violence, and highlight girl and youth-led advocacy and solutions to break the cycle of violence to achieve a safer, more equitable world for all. Together for Girls, the event organizer, intends to launch a new rape kit developed by youth, for youth, to help survivors access post rape care. There will be two panels, including one for all youth. Partners: Together for Girls Location: Millennium One Hotel SIDE EVENT: EMPOWERING WOMEN AND GIRLS This event is proposed to be delivered in French. It will focus on best practices to empower rural women and girls, focusing on climate change resistance, food security, migration and access to and control of resources. Partners: L Association Québécoise des organismes de coopération international Anne Delorme. Location: UN Conference Room 1 3:00 PM 6:00 PM General discussion (Item 3) (continued) in parallel with: Interactive dialogue Accelerating implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and achieving concrete results by 2020
Page 9 Wed, March 14 10:00 AM 1:00 PM 10:00 AM 11:15 AM General discussion (Item 3) (continued) in parallel with: Interactive dialogue Review theme Participation in and access of women to the media and information and communications technologies and their impact on and use as an instrument for the advancement and empowerment of women SIDE EVENT: VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN POLICTICS Partner: Inter-Parliamentary Union Location: Conference Room D Conference Building 3:00 PM 6:00 PM General discussion (Item 3) (continued) in parallel with: Interactive dialogue Review theme Participation in and access of women to the media and information and communications technologies and their impact on and use as an instrument for the advancement and empowerment of women Minister Stephanie McLean and Chief of Staff Tara Ward travel back to Edmonton on March 14, 2018. DEPARTURE FROM NYC - Minister McLean and Chief of Staff Tara Ward are both flying back to Edmonton 3:15 PM: Delegates arrive at the New York JFK Airport 2 hours in advance of their international flight back to Edmonton 5:15 PM: Airplane departs the New York JFK Airport 11:52 PM: Delegates arrive at the Edmonton International Airport