The Long Road to CEDAW: Advancing housing rights for women and gender-diverse people in Canada

December 3, 2024

From local advocacy to global accountability, the Women’s National Housing & Homelessness Network, along with key allies, are advancing gender-specific housing rights in Canada through international human rights mechanisms

 

By Khulud Baig, Executive Director, Policy & Community Engagement

 

Participation in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is more than an advocacy opportunity—it’s a crucial platform for advancing global human rights standards. As one of the most influential international human rights treaties, CEDAW compels governments to confront and address gender-based discrimination in all its forms.

This year, the Women’s National Housing & Homelessness Network (WNHHN), alongside key partners like the National Right to Housing Network (NRHN) and the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR), joined a global chorus of advocates to push for change during Canada’s CEDAW review. Together, we emphasized the urgency of addressing the systemic housing discrimination faced by women and gender-diverse people in Canada.

A Milestone at CEDAW: Presenting at the 89th Session

In October 2024, the WNHHN had the incredible opportunity to present at the 89th session of CEDAW during Canada’s review. This moment came at a critical juncture in our advocacy. Earlier this year, the National Housing Council launched the National Human Rights Review Panel, Neha, to examine the government’s failure to eliminate homelessness among women and gender-diverse people—a review prompted by human rights claims submitted by the WNHHN and our sister network, the National Indigenous Women’s Housing Network (NIWHN).

At CEDAW, WNHHN and NIWHN submitted two key reports. One was a joint submission with national organizations, including NRHN and CCHR, spotlighting the systemic housing discrimination faced by women and gender-diverse people. The other highlighted transitional housing inequities, underscoring the heightened risks of gender-based violence and trauma among those experiencing homelessness.

Our presence in Geneva was about more than presenting evidence—it was about advocating for global accountability. Women and gender-diverse people experiencing homelessness are enduring profound human rights violations that cannot be ignored. We urged the CEDAW Committee to explicitly address these violations and push for gender-specific housing solutions in Canada.

CEDAW’s Concluding Observations: A Leap Forward

Our efforts were reflected in the CEDAW Committee’s concluding observations (en Francais). The Committee expressed grave concern about the feminization of poverty in Canada and the lack of comprehensive gender-specific policies to address women’s homelessness. Critically, the Committee recommended that Canada:

  • Revise the definition of chronic homelessness to better reflect the gendered experiences of Indigenous women, girls, and other systemically disadvantaged women.
  • Develop a gender-specific accountability mechanism with time-bound, human rights-based goals to eliminate housing insecurity among women.

These observations validate years of research and advocacy, reinforcing our assertion that housing insecurity is not a gender-blind issue. They also provide us with a powerful tool to hold the Canadian government accountable for addressing systemic discrimination in housing policies.

Looking Ahead: Turning Observations into Action

The CEDAW recommendations mark a turning point for WNHHN’s advocacy. We now have the opportunity to use these international commitments in our ongoing work, including our engagement with the National Human Rights Review Panel, Neha. Together with our allies, we will ensure these commitments translate into tangible, intersectional, and equitable policy changes.

Gendered discrimination in housing stems from making the experiences of women and gender-diverse people invisible. By shedding light on these realities, we can drive the development of gender-responsive and gender-specific solutions that respect and protect the housing rights of all.

As we continue this journey, our mission remains steadfast: to ensure that no one is left behind in the fight for housing justice.