24th Annual Federal-Provincial-Territorial Meeting of Ministers responsible for the Status of Women

REGINA, September 23, 2005 – Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women concluded their 24th annual meeting, agreeing to host a Policy Forum with Aboriginal women in early 2006 to discuss violence against Aboriginal women.

The Forum will bring greater awareness to this urgent issue by: providing an opportunity for Aboriginal women to share their experiences and solutions; showcasing best practices; strengthening collective capacity to address violence; and mobilizing governments and aboriginal organizations to inform policy and program development.

The Honourable Liza Frulla, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for the Status of Women, and the Honourable Deb Higgins, Saskatchewan Minister of Labour, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women and Minister of Property Management, co-chaired the meeting.

The Honourable Irwin Cotler, Justice Minister and Attorney General of Canada, met with the FPT Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women to discuss issues of mutual concern.

An update of the violence indicators that were released in December 2002, as contained in the report entitled Assessing Violence Against Women: A Statistical Profile will be conducted. The projected release is spring 2006.

The Ministers were informed of research on maternity and parental benefits, and discussed Canada’s obligations to the United Nations’ Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and Canada’s follow-up on Beijing + 10. The meeting also provided an opportunity for Ministers to highlight initiatives of their respective governments.

Since their first meeting in 1981, the FPT Ministers have met annually to examine ways to advance equality for women and to exchange information on important issues affecting women in Canada, specifically in the areas of economic security, health, human rights and violence. The next meeting of Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers is to be held in Saint John, New Brunswick in 2006.

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Information:

Jean-François Del Torchio
Press Secretary
Cabinet of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
and Minister responsible for Status of Women
(819) 997-7788

Nanci-Jean Waugh
Director of Communications
Status of Women Canada
(613) 995-7839

Adelle Ecarnot
Senior Ministerial Assistant
Saskatchewan Labour
(306) 787-7925

Gail Quinney
Communications Officer
Status of Women
(306) 787-3458