G7 urged to remember marginalized women

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is being asked to raise the concerns of marginalized women — not just female business leaders — when he champions gender equality around the G7 table at a resort in La Malbaie, Que., in June.

The Liberal government is making gender equality a major theme of its G7 presidency this year, including with expected proposals on the economic empowerment of women and increasing the rate of female participation in the male-dominated fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

Grassroots feminist activists in Ottawa for the “W7” summit this week are reminding the Liberals that women and girls living in poverty and other difficult conditions around the world — including in Canada — know best how their lives could be improved and it is time for the G7 to listen.

“We want the G7 to think more broadly, beyond the focus only on women’s economic empowerment or women entrepreneurs,” Julie Delahanty, executive director of Oxfam Canada, said Wednesday.

“Women’s economic empowerment is key, but we don’t want that agenda to be narrowly defined or for the leaders to neglect other important issues.”

The group of about 70 activists from 20 countries are in Ottawa to craft their own set of recommendations for how Canada and other G7 nations could improve the lives of women and girls, including on climate change, gender-based violence, and sexual and reproductive health rights.

Trudeau, shortly before meeting with the activists behind closed doors, said the Liberal government is serious about incorporating gender equality into every aspect of the upcoming summit.

“Canada is using our G7 presidency to challenge the status quo,” Trudeau said in a short speech.

He said he would like to see the G7 gender equality council, which includes high-profile members such as Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, become a permanent part of the summit process.

He also told the activists he would be listening to their ideas and their concerns.

“I thank you for pushing us and for never allowing anyone to get complacent,” he said.