As the G7 summit unfolds and leaders meet to shape priorities for global cooperation and investment, it’s crucial that gender justice stays at the forefront. 

In March, I had the pleasure of attending the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW69) with the Canadian Beijing+30 Network. A galvanizing and grounding experience offering a space for collective learning and cross-country solidarity. 

Thank you to the Beijing+30 Network for the opportunity to attend UNCSW, and to the staff of Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW), particularly Olivia Atsin, for all the work to organize the delegates and make us feel supported. This experience was an opportunity to connect with others from around the world engaged in anti-violence and gender justice work, as well as strengthen the relationship between Canadian colleagues and organizations. The opportunity to attend UNCSW69 was invaluable, particularly at a time when we are surrounded by so much uncertainty, backsliding, and crisis. Connecting with feminists, and rights defenders was an important reminder that there are both local and global efforts to advance gender justice, and that we are not operating in isolation.   

There are three things that I will take away from UNCSW: The importance of stepping outside of our silos and our work, the value of collective and community care, and the power of movement building and solidarity. 

Stepping out of our silos 

One of the first sessions that I attended was about gender-transformative approaches to housing. A couple of different speakers raised the importance of engaging survivors of violence in the housing process, including construction, urban planning and development, and local leadership. This would ensure that an understanding of the needs of those that had experienced violence would be part of future development processes and therefore housing may be more responsive to the needs of survivors in the future. When we work on our own issue area, in my case gender-based violence (GBV), we can become siloed. This was a powerful reminder of the importance of stepping out of the silo and seeing the ways that all areas of gender equality are interconnected. While my work may focus on GBV, this is not removed from an area like advancing women’s leadership. For the G7, this is a reminder that addressing systemic inequality requires breaking down barriers across all sectors – it’s an invitation to take a more intersectional and integrated approach. 

Collective/community care 

While the entire experience of being at UNCSW was exciting and inspiring, it was also overwhelming. There are processes to navigate, so many sessions to choose from, and an endless number of people. I have a deep appreciation for the work of the Bejing+30 Network in support the participants throughout the lead up and the time in New York. The gathering in Ottawa, as well as virtual information sessions made me feel well prepared for what to expect. This included understanding the anti-rights movements and actors that are also in attendance, and working to advance their own agendas. In addition to the work in advance, having a network to be in regular contact with made the whole experience feel more grounded.  

Too often in this work we need to support ourselves and address our own care, but throughout UNCSW was emphasis on community or collective care. In addition to navigation and general support, this was exemplified through the ways that individuals checked in on and ensured the safety of one another. When anti-rights activists were present and filming at the Beijing+30 panel there were a flurry of messages sent and someone intervening to ensure the wellbeing of those in the room. When we work in isolation, and are forced to enact our own self-care, we see people too often burnout and leave this work. These are strong examples of the many small ways we can support one another and keep each other well in this work. 

Movement building 

The week of UNCSW69 was an opportunity to see movement building in action. When Canada’s newly appointed Prime Minister disbanded the WAGE Minister position, Canadian feminists rallied quickly to launch a joint statement. The level of collaboration needed to put together a document that many could agree upon in such a short amount of time was powerful. In addition to this, seeing the rapid number of signs on in just the first hour of the letter being available showed the strength of the gender justice movement in Canada. I continued to collect the names signatories long after my return to Ottawa, leaving me struck by what it meant to be part of a movement. With the election now behind us, the work to counter backsliding on rights continues. But knowing the strength of this movement provides more hope and a potential for the future. 

Final thoughts 

In addition to these valuable lessons, the connections and knowledge I built over the week are critical for our ongoing work to address GBV and support the shelter sector. Engaging with other national shelter organizations was valuable, particularly as we look toward the global shelter conference later this year. While we have worked with networks like the US and Australia, I am excited to connect with smaller networks in the near future from places like Austria.  

The challenges that we are facing in Canada are not unique. Countries around the world are facing housing crises, and the labour crisis we see in the shelter sector is neither isolated to our sector or our nation. Connecting with those from other organizations that are also thinking about these issues presents the possibility of finding new allies for advocacy, bringing global best practices to our work, and expanding our research. As the G7 convenes, I hope leaders take seriously the lessons feminists have been sounding for decades: that the path to security and prosperity requires equality, solidarity, and care. 

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Robyn Hoogendam is the Research and Policy Manager for Women’s Shelters Canada, where she has worked since 2022. She has lead action-oriented research in the nonprofit sector for more than a decade in areas like childcare, poverty, food security, and gender-based violence. She holds PhD in Public Policy from Carleton University where she focused on federal funding of anti-violence women’s organizations in Canada