IMPROVING ECONOMIC PROSPECTS FOR CANADIAN GIRLS Report of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women Marie-Claude Morin, M. P. Chair OCTOBER 2012 41st PARLIAMENT, FIRST SESSION Published under the authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons SPEAKER’S PERMISSION Reproduction of the proceedings of the House of Commons and its Committees, in whole or in part and in any medium, is hereby perm [...] B. International Day of the Girl As described by Status of Women Canada on its Web page, Canada has been a leader in the international community in its adoption of the United Nations declaration of October 11, 2012 as the first International Day of the Girl Child.6 The Minister responsible for the Status of Women has played a leadership role in this initiative. [...] Some witnesses focused on the role of schools in promoting gender equality in content and methods,9 with one explicit recommendation to “review and address gaps in the school curriculum to ensure that gender equality is incorporated at every level of education.”10 Other testimony focused on the role of schools in promoting less traditional fields of study and career opportunities for girls, and in [...] Witnesses also provided evidence of the very high participation rates of mothers in the labour force, including the 70% of mothers, with children under the age of five, who work outside their homes.32 With respect to employment, Statistics Canada data show that for girls and women between the ages of 15 and 24, the unemployment rate (for those not working and looking for work) is 11.8% for those w [...] Doing so enables them to meet everyday needs and build self esteem, and gives a sense of belonging to the community.135 The Committee learned that girls and women with disabilities are more likely to be victims of violence, less likely to graduate from secondary school, and face higher rates of unemployment regardless of their qualifications.136 While the gap in employment rates between disabled a
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