GENDER EQUALITY LENS
There are good Gender Equality practices in the City of Ottawa. However, there has been no systematic way of ensuring that this occurs. In some cases, the needs of women are considered, but not the needs of specific groups of women who face additional barriers in accessing services (i.e. Aboriginal, francophone, new immigrant, women living on low-income, women with disabilities).(Source: Women’s Access to Municipal Services, 2002)
To address this need, City Council voted to establish this partnership in June 2004 (Motion) and then renewed the partnership in May 2005 (Motion): “That the City of Ottawa and Community and Protective Services, as the lead department, work with the City for All Women Initiative/ Initiative: une ville pour toutes les femmes to ensure that the goal of implementing practices and strategic plans that increase gender sensitivity and enhance gender equality is realized.”
In 2005, CAWI coordinated a reference group of city staff, academics and community experts to design the Gender Equality Lens (You may print this guide. However, prior to using any part of this guide in another publication, contact us for permission). In 2006, the Guide was piloted in the Community and Protective Services Department and an evaluation was completed with recommendations for full-implementation city-wide. In June 2007, the Executive Management Committee of the City of Ottawa decided to implement the Lens city-wide in target areas.
During this same period, City Council approved the creation of an Accessibility Lens and Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee proposed the creation of a Equity and Diversity Lens. Realizing the complexity of working with multiple lenses, the Executive Management Committee (EMC) of the City of Ottawa decided to build upon the learning of the Gender Equality Lens to develop a multi focal lens that will integrate the equity and inclusion concerns of 11 groups most affected by social exclusion in the community of Ottawa. These 11 groups are: the five equity groups identified in the City of Ottawa’s Equity and Diversity Policy – Aboriginal persons, women, persons with disabilities, visible minorities and GLBT individuals, as well as six additional groups who experience exclusion: recent immigrants, francophones, youth, seniors, low-income people and those living in rural areas.
City for All Women Initiative is currently working with community leaders and the City of Ottawa to develop this lens by June 2009.
