Women’s right to equality remains fragile, here and elsewhere in the world, since it is constantly called into question under the guise of respect for different cultures or religious practices. A recent example is the rollback of the right to abortion in the United States, demanded by the religious right. Here are some important actions that should be taken in Quebec, in Canada and internationally to consolidate women’s right to equality.
In Quebec
That the Court of Appeal of Quebec recognize, in its judgment on the validity of the Act respecting the secularism of the State (Bill 21), that the latter supports the right of women to equality by serving as a bulwark for religious symbols with our young people. It is indeed generally recognized that the great monotheistic religions are a cause of the inferiorization of women in society. Endorsing religious symbols in public schools would be tantamount, for the government, to endorsing the systemic discrimination against women by religions.
That the Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, ensure that the Culture and Citizenship program under development emphasizes equality between women and men, one of the fundamental values of Quebec. This program must, for example, make young people aware of the prejudices and gender stereotypes that hinder their full emancipation as well as violence against women, including harmful practices (genital mutilation, early marriage, commodification of women’s bodies, etc. ), so that they can act to counter them.
That the Minister responsible for the Status of Women, Martine Biron, create a Quebec observatory on feminicides to document and analyze data on these heinous crimes, an essential step in finding solutions to prevent them. There is indeed a Canadian Observatory of Femicide (sic) for justice and accountability, but it does not take into account the specificities of Quebec.
In Canada
That the Minister of Justice, David Lametti, recognize feminicides in the Criminal Code since it is well established that women and girls who are killed are killed in different contexts than men. They are, for example, more killed in private places, whereas men are killed in public places. They are also more likely to be beaten, strangled or choked, while men are more likely to be shot.
Finally, women are more likely to be killed by their intimate partner or family member, while men are more likely to be killed by male friends or acquaintances. Distinguishing femicides from homicides in the Criminal Code would demonstrate the federal government’s sensitivity to this important issue and determine appropriate consequences.
That Justice Minister David Lametti repeal the Criminal Code’s religious exception for hate propaganda, which provides a defense for people who publicly denigrate women when their comments are based on a religious text they believe in or on the interpretation of it. The misogyny of the texts on which the great monotheistic religions are based no longer needs to be demonstrated. Concrete actions are required to protect against violations of women’s right to equality.
That the President of the Treasury Board, Mona Fortier, revise her policy asking the various departments to “limit themselves by default to gender: only exceptionally use information relating to sex”. Sex (biological concept) and gender (social construction) are distinct concepts protected by the Canadian Charter of Human Rights. Substituting one for the other can only harm equality between women and men, especially in a context where they are trying to emancipate themselves from sexist stereotypes.
That the Minister of Public Security, Marco Mendicino, revise the Offenders of Diverse Gender Identities directive in order to provide an environment adapted to trans people, distinct from those designed for women and men. These three distinct groups have particular needs that should be recognized. Mixing these groups opens the door to abuse, jeopardizing women’s safety.
Internationally
That the 99 signatory countries of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women take appropriate measures to modify or repeal any law, any regulatory provision, any custom or practice constituting discrimination against women, as they pledged to do.
That countries adhering to the principles of human rights put pressure on those who practice apartheid against women, such as Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia, so that these discriminatory practices cease. The universality of human rights cannot suffer from any cultural or religious exception. International solidarity is required for the respect of women’s right to equality.
Let’s hope that 2023 will be a year of progress and consolidation of women’s right to equality, here and elsewhere in the world.