Canada: Women and Urban SDGs

“Human rights are women's rights, and women's rights are human rights." 

— Hillary Clinton


The Canadian Human Rights Act of 1977 states that all that Canadians have the right to equality, equal opportunity, fair treatment, and an environment free from discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, marital status, and family status. Nevertheless, women’s organizations and solidarity movements emphasize that despite 30 years of strides toward gender equality and equity in Canada, significant progress remains to be made.


Gender equality is not just a basic human right but also a prerequisite for sustainable development. Women and girls represent half of the world's population, yet they continue to face systemic barriers that limit their full participation and contribution to society. For instance, disparities persist in urban settings where women often face unequal access to employment, housing, healthcare, education, transportation, and representation in urban governance compared to men. Therefore, promoting gender-sensitive urban planning, development, and budgeting is crucial to fostering inclusive and equitable cities. Addressing gender disparities and promoting women's equality is not only morally imperative but also essential for realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.


Cities possess significant potential to drive progress toward the SDGs and address systemic issues like gender inequalities, which impact safety, inclusion, and equal opportunity. Recognizing the pivotal role of women and girls as active contributors to urban planning and community design, The World Urban Pavilion advocates for their equal partnership in realizing the SDGs.


The "Canada: Women and Urban SDGs" program, operating within the framework of the World Urban Pavilion and its flagship initiative "Canada: Frontrunner of Urban SDGs," aims to empower women and girls economically, politically, and socially in urban areas. By prioritizing gender equality and equity, the program seeks to benefit all individuals. To achieve this, a Global Secretariat will be established, focusing on implementing an intersectional feminist approach to address gender disparities in the Canadian context and position Canada as a global leader in this regard.

Global Secretariat

The Global Secretariat will explore and introduce all aspects of women and gender equality and equity within urban settings. This includes fostering opportunities for public engagement for both women and girls, initiating a global conversation to promote gender equality and equity, and highlighting effective strategies and best practices in Canada and around the world concerning sustainable urban development with a gender focus. Moreover, the Secretariat will actively promote the engagement of women and girls in urban design and management for the development of inclusive, resilient, and sustainable communities.


Program Objectives

The "Canada: Women and Urban SDGs" program aims to achieve the following objectives:


  1. Facilitate international dialogue on urban sustainable development and the involvement of women and girls in realizing the urban SDGs.
  2. Shift the urban paradigm by promoting gender-sensitive urban planning models aligned with SDG 11 and SDG 5.
  3. Advocate for inclusive governance to end gender discrimination.
  4. Integrate a gender perspective into urban planning and local economies to align with women and girls’ needs and priorities.
  5. Monitor program progress to include women as equal partners in building safe, resilient, and sustainable cities.
  6. Foster knowledge exchange and facilitate peer learning with global partners to contribute to the realization of the SDGs and the promotion of gender equality.


"There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish."

—Michelle Obama


Understanding the specific needs of women and girls requires the use of a feminist approach in urban design and planning. The program underscores the necessity of women and girls' involvement at all stages of urban development, from decision-making to implementation and policymaking. Empowering women and girls socially, economically, politically, and culturally is essential for building sustainable societies.


In summary, the “Canada Women and Urban SDGs” program, through its Global Secretariat, will amplify the voices of women and girls by integrating gender equality into all aspects of urban life. Ultimately, it seeks to establish a global feminist movement and knowledge exchange hub within the World Urban Pavilion, to foster safe, just, resilient, and sustainable cities and communities. 


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