Women's Rights Archives | Elizabeth May

Protecting Women’s Work and Civil Society in Aghanistan

Elizabeth May — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 16:05:00 +0000

Elizabeth May and Mike Morrice signed onto this open letter to address the impacts of the Taliban’s order to suspend women employees from working in local and international NGOs in Afghanistan.

Strategic Advocacy Human Rights (SAHR) is a peer-led network of human rights defenders fueling a worldwide movement of women and diverse human rights defenders working to end gender-based violence through law and policy reform.www.sa-hr.org

For more information about the letter, click here.

Click here to read the Open Letter to Muslim and International Communities.

From SAHR:

“It was painful to tell our female staff not to come to work the following day. We immediately called for an emergency meeting to deal with the operational impact of the ban. It changes everything for us,” said one of our colleagues, an Afghan human rights lawyer.

The NGO sector in Afghanistan was ultimately the last remaining safe place for women to be sustainably employed in. Tens of thousands of Afghan women were employed as educators, advisors, mediators, aid workers, surveyors, midwives, doctors and first responders.

The Taliban’s decree essentially forced women to a state of permanent unemployment and poverty.

“Few months ago, when I was in court helping my client, I got into a discussion with a Taliban judge about women’s work. I challenged him and said: if women cannot work, how are we going to feed our children? He said: either get married, or ask for zakat (charity) but women cannot work,” said one of our colleagues, a human rights lawyer.

Despite international condemnation, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid indicated no sign that the ban would be reconsidered or lifted:

“All those institutions wanting to operate in Afghanistan are obliged to comply with the rules and regulations of our country. We do not allow anyone to talk rubbish or make threats regarding the decisions of our leaders under the title of humanitarian aid.”

Kabul and other major cities were under high-security and surveillance after the decrees were announced.

“I had a drive around the city today morning to assess the changes and security surveillance. There are small groups of Taliban surveillance moving in the city watching women’s movements in the roads, streets and localities,” said one of our colleagues in Afghanistan.

Our colleagues are affected mentally as they are experiencing an unexpected and sudden change. But the current constraints push us to be more committed, motivated, courageous. We are prepared to work harder and to work with a vision. Such challenges and limitations should not stop us from supporting the women in our community who are the most affected and marginalised in the country.

We are calling on the international community for a more serious coordinated response against the systematic violence and gender persecution of women in Afghanistan and to pressure the Taliban to reverse their decision.

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Elizabeth May pays tribute to the two female Palestinian journalists killed by Israeli military

Elizabeth May — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 18:51:52 +0000

Speaker: Ms. May Time: 14/06/2022 14:00:14 Context: Statements Ms. Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands, GP): Madam Speaker, Shireen Abu Aqla. Ghufran Warasneh. Say their names. Women Palestinian journalists killed while doing their jobs: covering what was going on before their eyes. They were killed by the Israeli military and somehow even more shocking, their funerals were attacked by the Israeli military. The pallbearers were blocked as they tried to take them to their place of eternal rest. The Vatican representative in Jerusalem denounced it as brutally violating decades old agreements to hold Jerusalem sacred to the three main theist religions for whom all find spiritual significance in Jerusalem. We must, in this country, say something. We must do something. We call for an independent inquiry into the killing of these two brave, women Palestinian journalists. Canada must step up.

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Good Sunday Morning – March 14

Elizabeth May — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 13:51:11 +0000

My whole last week was intense work in parliament – on zoom. So, I thought I would share some of the week’s highs and low points.

Monday was International Women’s Day and I had a chance to celebrate women in politics across party lines. One very young NDP MP, our current Liberal Finance Minister and one retired Progressive Conservative. You might not be able to find three women in politics as different from each other as are Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, Chrystia Freeland and Pat Carney. All have faced additional obstacles because they are women. Former Senator Pat Carney, who is now one of my constituents, accomplished much in a very male dominated world. It is clear to me that the progress of women everywhere must be celebrated by women everywhere. I had been tempted to focus on the Green Party and all of our “firsts” – first woman leader of a federal party (1988 Kathryn Cholette), only party to ever elect more women than men to a caucus (federal and Prince Edward Island!) and, of course, first party with a woman black leader- 2020 Annamie Paul). But women need to support each other across party lines. Here it is in 70 seconds: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RUJlCFM14kWorld

And with my once a month chance to ask a question in Question Period, I was torn about what my largest priority should be. I really couldn’t escape the reality that virtually all of Question Period had been dominated by questions about our Minister of Defense and what he has known – or not known – about the charges of serious sexual misconduct by former Chief of Defense Staff General Vance. Is that the most important issue? No one had asked about the death of another Indigenous man killed by RCMP during a “wellness check”, and that gave me a chance to remind parliament about the death of Chantel Moore.

We had a big Green Party first on Wednesday as Paul Manly achieved unanimous consent on his motion in support of UK pensioners resident in Canada. I have tried for unanimous consent and never achieved it! Paul did a lot of work lining up support across party lines. But still, I held my breath. All it would take was one MP saying “nay!” and the motion could not have passed. There was a lot of cheering – me at home on my own! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9U9c5FmbaU0

My Wednesday morning started early (4:30AM) with an inspiring meeting of the Global Greens COP26 Working Group. I had the worst time zone issue- Australian Greens were joining after midnight, and we had participants from Burundi, Kenya, Egypt, Lebanon, Colombia, Venezuela, the US, UK, Sweden, Germany, India and so many more! It was a far more focused discussion of the climate crisis than once parliament opened. On Wednesday afternoon, we had our first return to debate on the Climate Accountability Act, C-12. It had not been on the Order Paper since December. Choosing a Wednesday (with only half day sittings) means that we are still far short of the number of hours we need before the bill goes to a Second Reading vote. After that, it will go to committee for study. As of now, I have not had any opportunity to speak to the bill. Nor have Paul or Jenica. My only way to participate is through debate in very brief questions. Brevity led to being very blunt in this question. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLwt9A7GYuE

Thursday was the one year anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring COVID19 a pandemic, so governments around the world marked the day with sombre memorials. In parliament, each leader spoke and I had my turn as parliamentary leader of the Green Party. I implored my colleagues to act as though we were operating in a proportional representation country – to act as though there were no political parties. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AnV72VDPJM

With only one question a month in Question Period, I have to look for other ways in debates to raise issues on behalf of constituents. On Friday, we were debating changes to employment insurance to improve benefits in light of COVID. I have been trying to find a way to raise the issue of the lingering illnesses of many who are no longer experiencing acute COVID symptoms but are not well – generally described as “long haulers.” One of their concerns is that the EI rules require they be looking for work which they are too sick to do, so I seized on that connection to explain the issue and press the government for answers. And I mentioned the petition I am sponsoring for a constituent, herself a long hauler. Unfortunately, and comically, the parliamentary secretary somehow misunderstood the question and thought I was asking about long-distance truckers! On my zoom screen I watched as my colleagues began to laugh. They all knew what I was talking about. The next MP to speak, pointed out that my question had been about the many Canadians who may no longer test positive for COVID, but are not recovered. (Because that was Friday, I do not have video of it yet. Maybe I’ll share it next week.) Being a long-hauler is no joke, but that was a pretty unbelievable exchange. Here’s the petition again. Please sign! https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-3229

Meanwhile, in the real world beyond the zoom world of parliament, some good news. Thanks to UBC’s Dr. Tara Martin who spotted the significance – ecological and cultural — of a nearly 10 acre island near Sidney Island in the Haro Strait. SISȻENEM has been restored to Indigenous ownership. The W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council made it possible. The Land Conservancy played a key role, as did the anonymous donor found by Dr. Martin. Inspiring! https://news.ubc.ca/2021/02/26/sis%C8%BCenem-transfer-to-w%CC%B1sanec-first-nations/

Lastly, I am very happy to ask you to sign and share this petition. I have written in GSM about the Canadian oil company ReconAfrica with its plans to frack and disrupt one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, the Okavango Delta along the Namibia-Botswana border. Please help us get this petition widely distributed. And Thanks to Vicky Husband for her work as the petition’s sponsor!

https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-3256

Have a great week! Stay well and safe!

Love,

Elizabeth

Please join me on March 18^th for a 350.org Town Hall on Just Transition! https://350.org/canada/jt-townhall/

Policy magazine asked me to do a book review of Bill Gates’ new climate book so here you go, https://policymagazine.ca/can-billionaires-save-the-world-what-bill-gates-gets-wrong-and-right-about-climate-change/

But now I am reading Michael Mann’s new book, The New Climate War, which is far FAR better!

You can subscribe to Good Sunday Morning by visiting the Saanich-Gulf Islands Greens website:
http://www.sgigreenparty.ca/

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Elizabeth May’s statement on International Women’s Day

Elizabeth May — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 20:30:15 +0000

Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands)
2021-03-08 14:01 [p.4659]

Mr. Speaker, happy International Women’s Day to all of us in the House of Commons. We have now made history. As of October 2020, there are 100 women to celebrate in our Parliament across all party lines.

Today I want to celebrate the Daughters of the Vote. It was only four years ago that Daughters of the Vote first occupied the Centre Block chamber in person. They are in Ottawa virtually now. Let us celebrate across party lines the hon. member for Nunavut, who was among Daughters of the Vote just four years ago and now sits in this place and does this chamber such honour.

I want to celebrate our colleague, the first woman Minister of Finance. I am celebrating that a minister of finance is, at long last, a woman. Now I also want to celebrate some former colleagues. I want to celebrate my friend, the Hon. Pat Carney, who served as a cabinet minister, negotiated the first Atlantic accord, negotiated the first free trade agreement and is now one of my constituents.
I thank them all. Let us hold each other up and give Daughters of the Vote a future to look forward to, one with more women in the House.

An hon. member: Hear, hear!

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Canada must stand by its commitment to Afghanistan

Elizabeth May — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 20:26:00 +0000

Click here to read Elizabeth May’s letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs regarding the safety of Afghani women and children.

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Statement in Support of Women’s Marches

Elizabeth May — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 19:59:39 +0000

(OTTAWA) January 18, 2018 — Elizabeth May (MP, Saanich-Gulf Islands) expresses support for the 2018 Sister marches taking place across Canada on Saturday, inspired by the 2017 Women’s March on Washington. Elizabeth will march and introduce speakers at the Victoria event.

“I am so excited about the marches happening in communities from Yukon to Newfoundland and Labrador, which highlight the growing bonds of solidarity across social movements in Canada. And it is a profound honour to be helping to introduce the inspiring speakers at the march in Victoria,” said Ms. May. “It has been a particularly empowering time for women who have faced sexual harassment and assault, with thousands upon thousands of courageous individuals adding their voices to the #MeToo campaign.”

Lorraine Rekmans, Green Party of Canada Critic for Indigenous Affairs, added: “As an Indigenous woman, I am encouraged to see the level of cross-movement solidarity being expressed through these marches, promoting our unified commitment to women’s rights. In addition to the struggle for women’s rights, we must recognize our common humanity, and support all struggles for justice.”

“The Green Party of Canada encourages our members and supporters — and all Canadians — to participate in these marches, as we rally together for a brighter, fairer and more sustainable future. We will continue working with our friends and allies towards a society that truly respects women and gender nonconforming people, and which expresses zero tolerance for violence and harassment of any kind,” concluded Ms. Rekmans.

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Statement on Annual Day of Justice for Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women

Craig Cantin — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 21:11:07 +0000

Today, as we all know, is a day of love and appreciation. It is also an opportunity to recognize humanity’s ability to show care and concern for others, especially those among us who have been victimized. There is no issue in Canada today that deserves to be raised, discussed, and resolved more than the fact that in recent decades over 600 aboriginal women have gone missing or been murdered. As a civilized society, we cannot ignore the existence of these horrendous crimes, especially in light of yesterday’s Human Rights Watch report. They are a blot on our efforts to build a united and just country. Therefore, the Green Party joins with our aboriginal sisters and others to call once again for an immediate federal inquiry into this shameful and scandalous example of violence against women. We also support the Liberals’ motion calling on parliament to conduct a thorough investigation.

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Malala Yousufzai

Justin Reist — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 18:10:40 +0000

Elizabeth May: Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues on all sides of the House for the opportunity to speak as leader of the Green Party of Canada in the tragic situation of the shooting of Malala Yousafzai.

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The fact that she was targeted, and we all feel this so keenly, I wish, as my friend from Mount Royal said, to associate myself with the comments of the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, the member for Ottawa South, my esteemed colleague from Mount Royal and my friend from the Bloc.

We stand in a non-partisan sense as Canadians whose values embrace the absolute right of young women to be the equivalent, the equals, of any man in their society. To have the right of education is something so fundamental that all of us are shocked to our core by what has happened to Malala.

It seems that in Pakistan the events have turned the tide against the Taliban, because people across various parts of that society recognize the evil in targeting a 14-year-old girl who wants nothing more than to be able to read, to write, to pursue her education and to pursue a life as a full-fledged member of that society.

Since there are very few words to add, I wonder if I could have the permission of my friends on all sides of the House to not think of Malala as a symbol but Malala as a 14-year-old girl who is lying in a hospital bed and, if we could, rise for a moment in contemplation and, if it moves us, in prayer, collectively as a House, to urge Malala’s well-being and to pray for her health.

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Canadian Human Rights Act (Bill C-304)

Craig Cantin — Wed, 30 May 2012 13:04:51 +0000

Elizabeth May: Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. friend from Westlock—St. Paul for his effort in putting forward the bill.

My initial reaction to any human rights code is that we have to defend it. I have also, though, had a number of constituents come to speak with me who are very supportive of this private member’s bill. I want to declare myself as open-minded. I have to confess that I do not know how I am going to vote on this private member’s bill.

I would like to ask my hon. friend who has put this motion forward if he can persuade me that when we change the legislation, as he is proposing in this private member’s bill, we would have adequate tools to deal with the very issue that was just put forward by my colleague from the official opposition. Would women’s rights or hate speech against women be inadequately protected if we changed the legislation?

Brian Storseth: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague for her open-mindedness. It is truly the spirit of democracy in which we are all sent here.

I believe what the bill would do is move hate speech provisions to the Criminal Code. This is something that is very important to realize. I believe this would actually enhance protections against hate speech. These are serious crimes. These are not crimes that a bureaucrat should be investigating through the back alleys of quasi-judicial bodies. These are crimes that should be investigated by police officers. Both sides should have access to lawyers, and the trial should be presided over by a judge. This is a serious issue and a serious crime.

I believe that moving hate speech to where it belongs in Canada, which is the Criminal Code of Canada, would actually enhance hate speech provisions in our democracy and at the same time enhance freedom of speech on the Internet and in other means of communication, which are now being used more and more by youth today to enhance our democracy.

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May Warns of Sabotage to Women’s Rights

Craig Cantin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:20:05 +0000

Conservative Stephen Woodworth’s motion M-312 on the legal status of abortion to be introduced in the House of Commons today for debate will, if passed, effectively re-open the tragically divisive abortion debate – thus threatening the hard-won reproductive rights of Canadian women.

“This motion is a back-door attempt to re-open the abortion debate,” said Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands. “The Green Party opposes any move by the Harper Conservatives to diminish the right of a woman to a safe, legal abortion. We fully support a woman’s fundamental right to choose.”

What some have labelled the “Men Who Stare at Zygotes Motion” calls for a special parliamentary committee to examine whether the Criminal Code definition of when a child becomes a “human being” should be changed to extend legal personhood to fetuses.

“If that were to happen, it would remove women’s rights as full human beings, and possibly even criminalize their decision-making during pregnancy,” said May.

M-312 is a waste of time and taxpayers’ money because it raises issues which have already been dealt with by Canada’s Supreme Court (including in Tremblay v. Daigle, Dobson v. Dobson, Winnipeg Child & Family Services v. Ms.G.D.F., Borowski v. Attorney General of Canada, and R. v. Morgentaler.)

The law has always treated a pregnant woman and her fetus as one person. The courts have stated that the intimate connection between a woman and her fetus cannot be considered in isolation, and that giving rights to fetuses would impose a duty of care on a pregnant woman that could result in extensive and unacceptable intrusions into her bodily integrity, privacy, and autonomy.

Fetal personhood would seriously undermine the constitutional rights of women who need abortions, but also the rights of any pregnant woman.

“In the U.S., hundreds of women have been prosecuted because of so-called “fetal homicide” laws and thousands more have been subjected to punitive and counter-productive child-welfare interventions that treat what women do or experience during pregnancy as evidence of child neglect or abuse,” May warned. “This is cruel and short-sighted.

Through the Green Party’s “pro-life, pro-choice” position, it is committed to expanding programs in reproductive rights and education to avoid unwanted pregnancies in the first place, thus reducing the number of abortions in Canada. Greens have also advocated the expansion of supports for low-income mothers who wish to have a child, but may consider abortion due to lack of resources.

“It is vital that safe, legal abortions be available to the women of Canada – and the world. Contrary to the Harper Conservatives, we also fully support federally-funded maternal health programmes to ensure access to family planning and primary health care, including access to safe, legal abortions. These are rights we should be expanding, not threatening,” May concluded.

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