Status of Women Canada (SWC) is a federal government organization that promotes the full participation of women in the economic, social and democratic life of Canada. SWC works to advance equality for women and to remove the barriers to women's participation in society, putting particular emphasis on increasing women's economic security and eliminating violence against women.

To advance equality for women, SWC works with federal departments and agencies to ensure that the gender dimensions are taken into account in the development of policies and programs - by conducting gender-based analysis and supporting research.

Through the Women's Program and its two components, the Women's Community Fund and the Women's Partnership Fund, SWC also plays a vital role in supporting the work of women's and other Canadian organizations. Recently, the mandate of the Women's Program was revised as follows: "to advance the equality of women across Canada through the improvement of their economic and social conditions and their participation in democratic life." Simultaneously, the objective of the program was changed to the following: "to achieve the full participation of women in the economic, social and democratic life of Canada." For the Women's Partnership Fund, these changes came into effect in January 2008. For the Women's Community Fund, the changes came into effect as of April 2008. Further information will be posted in the Women's Program section of the SWC web site as it becomes available.

The organization carries out its mandate in collaboration with other federal departments and agencies, other levels of government, and non-governmental, voluntary and private sector organizations. In addition, SWC works with other countries and international organizations to further Canada's domestic and foreign policies and to meet Canada's international obligations.