Introduction to GBA Plus

The fourth United Nations World Conference on Women was held in Beijing in September 1995. Member countries adopted a program aimed at accelerating progress toward equality between women and men, often referred to as the Beijing Platform for Action.

The Beijing Platform for Action required that all member states develop a concept for the implementation of “gender mainstreaming” as part of their national strategies and "seek to ensure that before policy decisions are taken, an analysis of their impact on women and men, respectively, is carried out."

Canada joined the consensus in adopting the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action, with its commitment to the Beijing Platform for Action outlined in the Federal Plan for Gender Equality.

Gender-based Analysis is a key part of the 1995 Federal Plan for Gender Equality, which Canada adopted following the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing and the launch of the Platform for Action. The Government of Canada committed to conducting GBA on all future legislation, policies, and programs.

In preparation for the Women's World Conference in Beijing, the Government of Canada developed Setting the Stage for the Next Century: The Federal Plan for Gender Equality (1995-2000), which outlined Canada's commitment to implementing GBA in policies, programs and legislation.

The Federal Plan for Gender Equality sets out a systematic approach to gender equality for Canada. The plan's objectives were to:

• Implement GBA throughout federal departments and agencies;
• Improve women's economic autonomy as well as women's physical and psychological well-being;
• Reduce violence in society, particularly violence against women and children;
• Promote gender equality in all aspects of Canada's cultural life;
• Incorporate women's perspectives in governance;
• Promote and support global gender equality; and
• Advance gender equality for employees of federal departments and agencies.

Following the culmination of the five year plan set out in the 1995 Federal Plan for Gender Equality, the Government of Canada adopted a new plan in 2000: the Agenda for Gender Equality (AGE).

The AGE was a five year government-wide strategy to accelerate the implementation of GBA, meet international commitments and treaty obligations, engage Canadians in the policy process, enhance voluntary sector participation in support of achieving gender equality, and engendering policies and programs.

The AGE was led by Status of Women Canada, in cooperation with three other federal departments: Health Canada, the Department of Justice Canada and Human Resources Development Canada.

Canada acceded to the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 2002, demonstrating its commitment to the promotion of gender equality and fundamental human rights for women domestically and internationally. The Optional Protocol enhances the CEDAW Committee's ability to oversee compliance with the Convention.