International Travel Final Report Honourable Stephanie McLean, Minister of Service Alberta and Status of Women Mission to the 61 st Annual Meeting of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) March 12-15, 2017 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 and PT ministers, the attendance of the Minister, Minister s Chief of Staff and Deputy Minister 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 PT governments. Alberta s delegation also had the unique opportunity to learn from international NGOs and officials from around the globe. 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, high level discussions among key officials. 3. To gather intelligence on key issues and forge strategic alliances amongst federal and PT colleagues that will advance Alberta s agenda on women s equality issues. Results: GoA 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 UNCSW61: Enhanced understanding leading to action that improves Alberta women s economic empowerment in the changing world of work (the priority theme of UNCSW61). Strong relationships with FPT colleagues leading to action across Canada that advances gender equality.
Page 2 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 to which they contributed. Table 1 - Results Date Activity/event Outcome March 12, 2017 Canadian Delegation Dinner March 13, 2017 Attendees included the federal minister, and ministers from Yukon, Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. UNCSW61 Official Session Learning Sessions hosted by the Netherlands and Nordic countries. Side events sponsored by Canada Canadian delegation and NGO representatives meet and greet 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. With the enhanced relationship, the Alberta minister can more easily intervene and advocate for Alberta s position during FPT and bilateral meetings with FPT colleagues. Enhanced understanding leading to action that improves Alberta women s economic empowerment in the changing world of work (the priority theme of UNCSW61). Specifically, Alberta officials took away valuable learnings of challenges and opportunities with regard to policy and legislation for gender equality in the Nordic countries. A session on LBT Women and Economic Empowerment provided new knowledge regarding the experiences LBT women have in being economically secure. With the Status of Women Department being relatively new, policy is still being developed/proposed. The learnings from the UNCSW61 sessions will assist in policy development. 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. With the enhanced relationship, the Alberta minister can more easily intervene and advocate for Alberta s position during FPT and bilateral meetings with FPT colleagues.
Page 3 Date Activity/event Outcome March 14, 2017 Learning sessions hosted by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Commission on the Status of Women, UN Women, Iceland, the Inter-Parliamentary Union Unofficial meetings with other Provincial/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. Specifically, the Alberta minister and Alberta officials 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. While Alberta did not organize a formal working or learning session, the stage has been set for Alberta to do so in the future, should the opportunity arise. Enhanced understanding leading to action that improves Alberta women s economic empowerment in the changing world of work (the priority theme of UNCSW61). With the Status of Women Department being relatively new, policy is still being developed/proposed. The learnings from the UNCSW61 sessions will assist in policy development. 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. With the enhanced relationship, the Alberta minister can more easily intervene and advocate for Alberta s position during FPT and bilateral meetings with FPT colleagues. 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
Date Activity/event Outcome Alberta s leadership on gender equality. Page 4 Specifically, All Canadian provincial/territorial Ministers in attendance at a session on sexism and harassment against women politicians were given the opportunity to make a 2-minute intervention. Minister McLean spoke to her experience and provided an Alberta perspective during her intervention. Child care and early learning programs were discussed with provincial/territorial colleagues in particular, a priority matter for Alberta. March 15, 2017 While Alberta did not organize a formal working or learning session, the stage has been set for Alberta to do so in the future should the opportunity arise. Travel Day Delegation: Steve Stringfellow, Minister s Chief of Staff Kimberly Armstrong, Deputy Minister, Status of Women Final Itinerary: Please see Attachment 1 for the itinerary. It must be noted that due to a snowstorm in New York on Tuesday, March 13, 2017, all regular events of the UNCSW were cancelled. The Canadian delegation re-organized some of their events to take place at the Canadian Embassy. Significant Speeches/Presentations: No major speeches or presentations were made by Minister McLean. News Releases/Communiques: March 10, 2017: Minister to be at global table on women s finances (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) $2,838.01 Accommodation $3,162.73 Meals $1,036.35 Incidental and Miscellaneous $481.66 Sub-total $7,518.75 General Mission Expenditures Receptions and Hosting Incidental and Miscellaneous Amount Sub-Total Total Costs $7,518.75
Page 6 ATTACHMENT 1 61 st Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women Itinerary Sunday, March 12 to Wednesday, March 15, 2017 **Note: parties to the Alberta delegation attended most, but not all of the events listed, as some events were cancelled due to the blizzard in NY on Tuesday, March 14, and others were held in rooms without enough space for all attendees. SUNDAY, MARCH 12 TIME EVENT 6:00 AM 2:15 PM Flight Edmonton to Toronto Toronto to New York (LaGuardia/LGA airport) 6:30 to 8:30 PM Canadian delegation (CanDel) dinner MONDAY, MARCH 13 TIME EVENT 9:00 9:45 AM Canadian delegation (CanDel) briefing 10:00 11:00 AM Opening Session of the UNCSW61 Canadian delegation attending 11:30-12:45 PM Intersectionality: An Inclusive Approach To Gender Equality Hosted: Netherlands Gender equality the Nordic way: What can we learn from it 1:15-2:30 PM Hosted: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden 3:00-4:15 PM CANADA SIDE EVENT National and Community Based Prevention Programs Addressing Intimate Partner Violence 4:00* 5:15 PM Hosted: World Bank Group, Global Women's Institute of the George Washington University, World Health Organization, and Government of Canada CANADA SIDE EVENT *schedule does overlap with Canada hosted side event: LBT Women s Economic Empowerment previous event Hosted: Canada 6:15 7:30 PM Canadian Delegation and NGO Representatives Meet and Greet (all delegates of the official Canadian delegation) Hosted by Marc André Blanchard, Canada s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York
Page 7 TUESDAY, MARCH 14 TIME 10:00 11:15 AM EVENT How adequate is the international legal framework on violence against women? Hosted: Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and Croatia 10:00 11:15 AM Every Women Every Child: Empowering Women, Families and Communities for Health & Wellbeing and Sustainable Development for All CSW FLAGSHIP EVENT 11:30 12:45 PM CANADA SIDE EVENT Women s economic empowerment: An economy that works for women 1:15-5:45 PM 2017 Women's Empowerment Principles Forum: "Measuring Success, Making it Count: Business Investing in Women and Girls" Hosted: Un Women, UN Global Compact, UN Office of Partnerships and US Chamber of Commerce Foundation 1:15-2:30 PM Gender equality in the Labour Market and Equal pay: What works? - The Icelandic Approach to Affirmative Actions Hosted: Iceland 3:00 PM 5:00 PM CANADA SIDE EVENT Sexism and harassment against women politicians (Co-hosted with the Inter-Parliamentary Union) 6:30 7:45 PM CANADA SIDE EVENT WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15 TIME EVENT 11:30 AM New York to Toronto Toronto to Edmonton Empowerment as an instrument to eradicate all forms of violence against indigenous women and girls (Co-hosted with the United States and Mexico) TBC
Page 8 ATTACHMENT 2 Mar 10, 2017 Minister to be at global table on women s finances Minister Stephanie McLean will travel to New York from March 12 to 16 for the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Minister McLean will join Status of Women Canada Minister Maryam Monsef and the Canadian delegation to the 61st session of the commission to meet global leaders striving for women s equality in their countries. I am eager to learn about the progress other nations are making on women s equality and share Alberta s historic achievements: raising the minimum wage to help close the gender wage gap, creating new, $25-per-day childcare spaces, and appointing the first gender-balanced cabinet in Canada s 150-year history. - Stephanie McLean, Minister of Status of Women The estimated international travel cost for the minister, one political staff member and one public servant is approximately $10,000. Quick facts 66.6 per cent of women were part of Alberta s labour force in 2015 the highest participation rate among women in Canada. The number of working women who have a university degree in Alberta increased by 81 per cent between 2005 and 2015. Women are still over-represented on the lower end of the pay scale in Alberta. Sixty-two per cent of minimum wage earners are women. Alberta s minimum wage will rise to $15 per hour by 2018 a first in Canada. The Government of Alberta has recently invested nearly $102,000 to help Alberta women entrepreneurs explore opportunities for accelerated business growth. Status of Women has partnered with the City of Edmonton and UN Women, which leads the UN s work on gender equality, on an initiative to create safe public spaces for women and girls. Itinerary for Minister McLean March 12 Travel to New York
Page 9 March 13-15 Attend the 61 st session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women Meet with elected officials March 15 Travel to Alberta Related information UN Women: Commission on the Status of Women Media inquiries Tina Faiz 587-986-1505 Press Secretary, Status of Women