Canada
House of Commons
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Political system
Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
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Parliamentary system
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Structure of parliament
Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
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Bicameral
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IPU membership
Current membership status
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Yes
Specialized body - Gender equality
Standing Committee on the Status of Women January 2004
About
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Nature
Permanent or temporary (ad-hoc)
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Permanent
- Themes
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Gender equality
Members
| All Members | 45 years of age or younger | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 11 | 1 |
| Male | 1 | - |
| Female | 10 | 1 |
Chairperson(s)
(2021-11)
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Person
Person details for the Chair
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Karen Vecchio (Female)
Date of birth: 06 Mar 1971 - Political affiliation
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Opposition
Committee functions
The Committee has the following functions:
- Mainstream gender equality into the work of (other) parliamentary committees and of Parliament as a whole
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No
- Scrutinise all Bills from a gender perspective
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No
- Scrutinise the Executive’s policy from a gender perspective
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Yes
- Obtain information from the Executive about the justification for actions or inaction which affect gender equality and women’s rights
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Yes
- Scrutinise State compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
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No
- Initiate inquiries of its own choosing
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Yes
- Scrutinise proposed treaties on gender equality, and other international treaties with implications for gender equality and women’s rights, and report to Parliament thereon, prior to ratification
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No
- Ascertain and review the Executive’s reasons for not acceding to or ratifying existing international human rights treaties on gender equality and women’s rights
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No
- Scrutinise the Executive’s response to human rights judgments - of national, regional and international courts – that have gender considerations
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No
- Monitor the adequacy of the existing national system for the promotion of gender equality
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No
- Review the allocation and expenditure of funds in the State budget to support measures to promote gender equality and protect women’s rights
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Yes
- Other important functions, please specify
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The House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women “has the broad authority to study the policies, programs, expenditures (budgetary estimates) and legislation of departments and agencies, including Status of Women Canada, that conduct work related to the status of women.”
Though the Committee does not have the power to access places of attention without notice, Members of Parliament have the power to access places of detention on their own.
Committee involvement in international and national reporting mechanisms
Such as the UN Human Rights Council and its' Universal Periodic Review, the UN CEDAW Committee etc.
- Consulted in the preparation of the most recent national report to the CEDAW Committee
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No
- Included in the official delegation which orally presented the most recent national report to the CEDAW Committee
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No
- Discussed the conclusions and recommendations which the CEDAW Committee adopted as a result
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No
- Conducted hearings with the Executive about its plans to implement CEDAW conclusions and recommendations
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No
- Involved in the preparation of national reports to other international or regional mechanisms (Resolution 1325 of the United Nations Security Council on Women, peace and security, the Beijing Platform for action…)
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No
Committee powers
The Committee has the power to:
- Propose amendments to legislation
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Yes
- Introduce bills into Parliament
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No
- Initiate parliamentary debates on its reports or on subjects of its choosing
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Yes
- Carry out inquiries
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Yes
- Hold oral evidence hearings
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Yes
- Compel witnesses to attend
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Yes
- Compel the production of documents and papers
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Yes
- Make recommendations to the Executive
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Yes
- Conduct visits, including visits abroad
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Yes
- Access places of detention without notice
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No
Committee working methods
The Committee:
- Adopts an annual or longer-term work plan
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Yes
- Publishes reports on its work on the parliamentary website
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Yes
- Usually reaches consensus on the issues on which it reports
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No information available
- Systematically follows up its reports and recommendations
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Yes
- Reports regularly to Parliament on its activities
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Yes
- Number of specialised staff to service committee
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4
Cooperation and coordination
The Committee regularly cooperates and coordinates (e.g. through sharing of reports; meetings; joint follow-up action) with:
- Other parliamentary committees
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No information available
- Civil society organisations
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No information available
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National Human Rights Institution(s) and National Institution(s) for the promotion of gender equality
Often called “Commissions” and/or “Ombudspersons” in the area of human rights
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No information available
- Academic institutions, including human rights and gender equality research institutes
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No information available
- The media
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No information available
Contact information for the Committee
- Contact / Address
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Alexie Labelle, FEWO Committee Clerk
House of Commons, Sixth Floor, 131 Queen Street
Ottawa K1A0A6
ON
Canada - Phone
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+1 (613) 995-6119
- Fax number
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+1 (613) 947-3089
- Web site