About Us

Information Sheet

Our Goal:

Status of Women Canada (SWC) is the federal government agency which promotes gender equality, and the full participation of women in the economic, social, cultural and political life of the country.

Our Priorities:

• improving women's economic autonomy and well-being;
• eliminating systemic violence against women and children;
• and advancing women's human rights.

What We Do:

• work to ensure that legislation, policies and programs advance women's equality throughout the federal government;
• conduct gender-based analysis of legislation, policies and programs, and recommend changes to ensure that government decisions are of benefit to all Canadians, women and men equally;
• promote the implementation of gender-based policy analysis throughout the federal government;
• promote and monitor the progress of the status of women throughout the country;
• fund policy research and integrate the research findings into the policy development process;
• provide financial, technical and professional assistance to women's and other voluntary organizations at community, regional and national levels, to support actions which advance women's equality;
• collaborate with provincial and territorial governments, international organizations and other countries, women's organizations, and other stakeholders, to address women's equality issues.

We Work With:

• Governments: SWC works with other federal government departments and agencies to provide Canadians with strengthened and more equitable public policy. Gender-based analysis, a process developed by SWC, ensures that gender equality concerns are integrated into all federal government legislation, policies and initiatives. The Policy Research Fund supports research that identifies policy gaps, trends, emerging issues, and provides concrete recommendations and alternative solutions to policies and programs affecting women. Research results inform government policy making, enhance the public policy debate, and enable equality-seeking organizations to have greater impact on the public policy process. SWC also collaborates and works in partnership with provincial and territorial governments to address women's equality issues.
  
  
• Equality-seeking organizations: SWC works with equality-seeking organizations to provide Canadians with a wide range of informed and effective stakeholders working actively for women's equality. Staff in SWC's regional offices maintain regular contact with women's and other equality seeking organizations across the country. The Women's Program provides financial, technical and professional assistance to support community-based action. SWC's consultation process is designed to develop and strengthen the relationship between SWC and stakeholders.
  
  
• Other sectors: SWC works with many organizations in the non-governmental, voluntary, and private sectors. It supports policy research on women's equality issues by individual researchers, research organizations, women's organizations and other groups. It encourages key sectors, such as industry, education, justice and health authorities, to incorporate women's equality into their decision-making structures, policies and programs. SWC has also assisted organizations and businesses in developing programs that promote issues relating to women's equality.
  
  
• International organizations: In promoting women's equality globally, SWC works collaboratively with international organizations, such as the United Nations, the Commonwealth, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation initiative (APEC), the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), la Francophonie and the Organization of American States (OAS). SWC was the lead government agency in Canadian preparations for the Fourth United Nations World Conference on Women, held in Beijing, China (September 1995). The agency also represents Canada in initiatives with other countries to advance women's equality.

For More Information:

SWC provides information on women's equality issues. It produces regular and special publications, manages the Governor General's Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case, and produces and distributes information for Women's History Month, International Women's Week, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women, and other commemorative events. Contact our National Office for more information.