The year 2025 marks several significant anniversaries for international gender equality mechanisms. These include the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (the Beijing Declaration), the 25th anniversary of United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 1325 and the 10th anniversary of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 5 on gender equality. This HillNote is the first in a series of publications throughout 2025 marking these milestones. It summarizes the international gender equality framework that applies to Canada, a founding member of the UN in 1945, and provides information on Canada’s progress toward gender equality.
Figure 1 provides a timeline of the development of selected United Nations gender equality mechanisms and Canada’s actions in response to these.
Figure 1: Timeline of United Nations Gender Equality Mechanisms and Canadian Actions
Note: For more details on the milestones depicted in the infographic, please see Table 1.
Sources: Figure prepared by the Library of Parliament using data obtained from Government of Canada, Advancing gender equality and empowering women and girls; Government of Canada, Canada’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security; Government of Canada, Reports on United Nations human rights treaties; United Nations, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Women’s Rights are Human Rights, 2014; United Nations, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, OCHR and women’s human rights and gender equality; and United Nations, Gender Equality.
Progress Toward Gender Equality
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
Adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1979, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) was a landmark agreement to recognize and protect women’s human rights and end gender-based discrimination. Canada ratified CEDAW in 1981, committing to taking the necessary legislative and policy measures to implement all 30 articles and to submitting periodic reports to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (the CEDAW Committee) at least every four years.
CEDAW recommended an intersectional approach to gender equality. It stated that “discrimination of women based on sex and gender is inextricably linked with other factors that affect women, such as race, ethnicity, religion or belief, health, status, age, class, caste and sexual orientation and gender identity.” This recognition of intersecting forms of discrimination echoes provisions found in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and is reflected in the UN Free & Equal campaign, launched in 2013 to further public education and advocacy toward LGBTIQ+ equality.
In 2022, Canada submitted its 10th periodic report to the CEDAW Committee. The committee made a number of observations following its review of the report in October 2024, including the need for Canada to develop policies specifically aimed at men with a view to eliminating gender stereotypes concerning the roles and responsibilities of men and women in society, and to develop mechanisms to enhance engagement with non-governmental organizations and stakeholders.
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action
The Beijing Declaration was adopted by 189 member states at the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995. Although non-binding, the declaration reflected a commitment to advancing “equality, development and peace for all women everywhere in the interest of humanity” and “ensuring that a gender perspective is reflected” in all policies and programs. In response, the Government of Canada developed a federal plan for gender equality, which committed to implementing Gender-based Analysis (now Gender-based Analysis Plus).
In 2024, Canada published its fifth national review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration, examining progress made from 2019 to 2024. While highlights included an increase in women’s participation in the labour force and the launch of government programs that support women’s equality, a “disturbing rise” in gender-based violence and other challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic were also noted.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325
Adopted by the UN Security Council in 2000, Resolution 1325 promotes the role of women within UN peacekeeping and security efforts, and emphasizes the prevention of conflict-related gender-based violence. Resolution 1325 is the foundation to the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda to which Canada has committed.
In 2023, Canada released its third action plan, Foundations for Peace: Canada’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security – 2023 to 2029. Building on lessons learned from previous plans, the latest plan focuses on bridging domestic and international WPS implementation, adopting an “intersectional feminist” approach, and strengthening partnerships with civil society and Indigenous peoples. It also commits to establishing a “coordination hub” at Global Affairs Canada and delivering annual reports to Parliament.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
The 17 UN SDGs at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development were developed in 2015 as a follow-up to the UN Millennium Development Goals. Unlike CEDAW and Resolution 1325, the SDGs are non-binding. SDG 5 aims to “achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.” Annual monitoring reports have repeatedly noted the lack of progress toward all SDGs, with the 2024 Sustainable Development Goals Report indicating that of the 169 targets for the 17 goals, only 17% have been met or are on track to be met by 2030. With respect to SDG 5, the report states that “the world continues to lag in its pursuit of gender equality by 2030.” Figure 2 provides a snapshot of progress made toward achieving SDG 5 as of 2023.
Figure 2: Progress Toward United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5
Source: United Nations, The Sustainable Development Goals Report, 2023: Special Edition, p. 62.
While SDG 5 explicitly addresses gender equality, relevant issues are present across the other SDGs, as demonstrated by Figure 3.
Figure 3: Snapshot of Gender Equality Across the Sustainable Development Goals
Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, The Gender Snapshot 2024, pp. 2–3.
In Canada, a 2030 agenda national strategy and indicator framework have been developed to support the implementation of all SDGs. The indicator framework establishes 33 Canadian ambitions, which are tracked using 76 indicators and 34 measurable targets. Progress toward these ambitions is updated on a UN-facilitated data hub. Key SDG 5 indicators include the proportion of leadership roles held by women and the proportion of women who have experienced intimate partner violence in the previous 12 months. In July 2023, Canada submitted a second Voluntary National Review of the country’s actions, with a particular focus on efforts to advance five priority SDGs, including SDG 5.
Parliamentary Work Toward Gender Equality
Senate
In the Senate, issues related to gender equality are often considered by committees such as the Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (SOCI); the Standing Committee on Human Rights; the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade; and the Standing Committee on Indigenous Peoples.
A recent example of gender equality work is a SOCI report, tabled during the 44th Parliament, on the implementation of Gender-based Analysis Plus in the federal government. While acknowledging progress that had been made, this report also made 15 recommendations for a more comprehensive adoption of the practice.
House of Commons
In the House of Commons, the Standing Committee on the Status of Women (FEWO) focuses on issues related to the status of women and gender equality. During the 44th Parliament, FEWO has undertaken work examining the safety and security of women and girls in intimate partner relationships and sport, violence targeting the 2SLGBTQI+ community and Indigenous women and girls. It has also studied broader issues of equality and inclusion affecting women, including menstrual equity and economic empowerment.
Gender equality issues are also studied by other House of Commons committees, including the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage; the Standing Committee on Health; the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities; the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights; and the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs.
Additional Resources
Annett, Clare and Dominique Montpetit. The Status of Gender Equality in Canada: Reflecting on the 25th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. HillNotes. Library of Parliament, 1 October 2020.
Annett, Clare and Dominique Montpetit. Women in the Parliament of Canada: 100 Years of Representation. HillNotes. Library of Parliament, 1 December 2021.
Dumont, Marie. The Women, Peace and Security Agenda at 20 Years. HillNotes. Library of Parliament, 29 October 2020.
By Laura Blackmore, Library of Parliament