Speaking Notes for the Honourable Helena Guergis, P.C., M.P., Minister of State (Status of Women) on the occasion of the 9th Annual UNIFEM Canada Award Banquet

Crowne Plaza Hotel
Ottawa, Ontario
Thursday, November 20, 2008

Check against delivery

Madame Chair, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to be here today, to join in honouring the 2008 winner of the ninth UNIFEM Canada Award, Madame Louise Fréchette.

First, I would like to express my gratitude to the staff of UNIFEM for their tremendous effort in organizing tonight's very special event.  Congratulations to all involved in making this evening a reality!

Having just recently been appointed as the Minister of State (Status of Women), it is indeed my privilege to celebrate Madame Louise Fréchette, and her significant contributions to advancing equality for women and justice for all.

In 2005, Forbes Magazine declared Louise Fréchette to be one of the 100 most powerful women in the world.

The word "power" is derived from the old French and middle English terms meaning "to be able."  Simply put, to be "powerful," one must be able to get things done - and Madame Fréchette truly epitomizes that ideal!

Her 35 years of distinguished public service attest to that fact that Madame Fréchette is a woman who gets things done.  In a wide range of leadership roles, including Ambassadorial posts, Deputy Minister of National Defence, Canadian Permanent Representative to the United Nations and, from 1998 to 2005, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Madame Fréchette has championed many efforts to create lasting and positive change, and had a hand in or witnessed many others.

By celebrating someone like Madame Fréchette, we are reminded that when women and men are able to fulfill their dreams and determine their own destiny, Canada - and the world - is stronger and we all benefit.

As Madame Fréchette and other women of achievement have demonstrated, women are proven leaders - in their families, their workplaces and their communities; in their home countries and across the world.  If we continue to create the conditions for their success and prosperity, more and more women will take on the challenge of leadership in all sectors of society, both within Canada and in the world.

When women are prevented from full participation in any sphere, we all lose out.  That is why there is an urgent need for new strategies and approaches at the structural level.  Non-governmental organizations, such as UNIFEM, play an important role, as can other fora.

For example, UNIFEM plays a critical role in supporting the work of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW).  By working together to end poverty and violence against women, stem the spread of HIV/AIDS and bring about democratic governance, UNIFEM and UNCSW are empowering women throughout the world.  This is especially true for those most at risk.  For them, empowerment can be more than life changing, it can be life saving.

This week, the Government of Canada presented to Canadians the Speech from the Throne, outlining its focus and priorities for the coming months.  It also builds on some of the Government's commitments from last years Speech from the Throne.  Here is an example of some our recent accomplishments:

• introducing the universal child care benefit;
• increasing the Pension Income Credit and changing the Guaranteed Income Supplement, thus putting money in the hands of older women;
• modernizing federal labour standards and expanding business opportunities for women;
• creating special initiatives for women entrepreneurs; and
• increasing crime prevention, justice and security measures to protect children from sexual exploitation.

In just a few days, on November, 25, countries around the world will observe the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which launches what is known as the Sixteen Days of Activism on Gender Violence - the period from November 25 to December 10, Human Rights Day.  This period includes December 6, Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women.  This day commemorates the Montréal Massacre of 1989, in which 14 women were murdered.

This shocking event - and countless other incidents of gender-based violence - underscores the need to continue to work for real and lasting change.

I am therefore proud Canada will be signing on to UNIFEM efforts to expand political commitment worldwide to end violence.

UNIFEM's Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman is the official spokesperson for the organization's Say NO to Violence against Women campaign, which she helped launch on November 26, 2007.  The initiative supports the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence.

Since Ms. Kidman's launch of the UNIFEM campaign, close to a quarter of a million people have signed on.  As a world leader in advancing equality for women, Canada must be part of this growing movement.  I encourage Canadians everywhere to visit the website www.saynotoviolence.org and add their names to this effort to end violence.

Today, as we celebrate the greatness of Madame Fréchette, may her accomplishments inspire us in the work ahead.  Our world - and the women in it - depend on it.

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