ABOUT US
City for All Women Initiative (CAWI) is a partnership between women from diverse communities, community organizations, academics and the City of Ottawa.
Our mission
City for All Women Initiative is a partnership that strengthens the capacity of the full diversity of women and the City of Ottawa to create a more inclusive city and advance gender equality.
We envision an Ottawa in which:
- Women’s knowledge, work, time, rights and leadership are fully recognized and valued.
- Our diverse experiences, cultures and perspectives are honoured and viewed as an asset in building an inclusive and caring community.
- Women and men of all races, cultures, languages, ages and abilities have equitable access to resources and decision making.
Strategic Directions
To achieve this we will:
- Create opportunities that build upon the capacities of the full diversity of women to influence city decision making.
- Continue to grow into a strong, mutually accountable city-community partnership committed to an inclusive city.
- Be an inclusive model of collaboration between women and their communities, community organizations, academics and the City of Ottawa.
Why this matters
We live in times in which city governments are being asked to do more with fewer resources. Women have important perspectives to bring to these difficult decisions. As women continue to be the primary caregivers in families, it is women who most often take on extra work and see the effects on their families when services are reduced. Women are more likely than men to live in poverty and have specific concerns regarding safety.
Given the rapid change of Ottawa’s population, women of distinct ethno-cultural groups will be left behind without specific strategies in place. Aboriginal women face challenges in seeking culturally specific services and adjusting to city life as increasing numbers migrate to Ottawa. Recent immigrant women face language and cultural barriers as they seek work and services. Women experience discrimination based on the colour of their skin, dress or religious beliefs. Francophone women find limited services and opportunities for input in French. At the same time, women living on low-income and women with disabilities face barriers that keep them from participating fully in the life of our city.
