UN Sustainable Development Goals

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  Gender equality

  YWCA Canada works to advance the underlying root causes of gender inequality such as legal discrimination, unfair social norms and attitudes, decision-making on sexual and reproductive issues and low levels of political participation. The United Nations highlighted in their 2019 SDG report that the lack of parity in politics continues to undermine the ability to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 5. Through our work in education, research and policy advocacy, YWCA Canada informs governments, leaders, communities and individuals to press for change. Violence anywhere is violence everywhere and we work on addressing gender-based violence, in all its forms from online to offline spaces, including against human trafficking. We also fight for society to recognize, value and adequately compensate care work such as child care, shelter services as well as health and social care for vulnerable communities. We need to break down the barriers girls, women, Two-Spirit and gender diverse people face to access equal rights in Canada. Through our National Youth Leadership Program, we train the next generation of young leaders in civil society, public service and private sector. This prepares them to be ethical and equitable leaders in all spheres of society. Our work aligns directly with these SDG5 targets: 5.1. End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. 5.2 Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. 5. 4 Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate. 5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.

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  Decent work and economic growth

  For over 150 years YWCAs have - in many creative ways - built on opportunities so women could access decent working conditions and economic independence. In the 1800s, hundreds of YWCAs trained women to work in fields previously prohibited due to gender norms, like typewriting or in the early 1950s training as physical health educators. Today, YWCAs training expands to coding, truck driving, construction, entrepreneurship,artificial intelligence and so much more. YWCA Canada advances SDG8 through research that is informed by local YWCAs programs that promote access to decent work. Between 2019 and throughout 2021, YWCA Canada has gathered data to inform governments and businesses on how to recruit and retain the diverse talent that women and gender diverse people bring to the economy. Diversity fuels growth leading to increased productivity, better financial performance and more creative teams. In addition, YWCA Canada has advocated to expand the social safety net as we know in times of economic uncertainty and social upheaval, supports like this help people get through difficult times. With the rise of the gig economy and temporary, precarious, short-term work, we know who is impacted the most. Women from diverse equity seeking groups such as youth, newcomers to Canada, Black, Indigenous, and racialized women, women with disabilities are over represented in unemployment and underemployment rates, with lower incomes on average. This makes access to supports such as Employment Insurance unlikely (and even with access inadequate). Our work aligns directly with these SDG8 targets: 8.3 Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services. 8.5 By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value. 8.7 Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms. 8.8 Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment.

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  Reduced inequalities

  In the fight to reduce inequalities, non discriminatory practices to access economic assets; access to decision making tables; and equal pay for equal work play a central role. YWCA Canada applies intersectionality in all our work as we believe that to move closer to social prosperity these three elements are substantial. Our educational campaigns highlight the intersecting elements of inequality and how through individual action, better labor practices, and the active use of a gender based analysis in policy and product design, Canada’s inequality levels will move positively. Our work aligns directly with these SDG10 targets: 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard. 10.4 Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality.