COVID-19 Threatens Gains Women Have Made in Peterborough and Around the World

5/15/2020

G7 Gender Councils Draft Recommendations for Coronavirus Response

Rosemary Ganley
The Peterborough Examiner
April 16, 2020

Members of two former G7 Gender Councils have made a series of recommendations to address gender inequality during the COVID-19 pandemic. GRAEME FRISQUE/TORSTAR

In late January 2018, at supper hour, I received an astonishing phone call. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is a man of great charm. "Rosemary," he said, "I've been reading your CV. We teachers have to stick together!"

Canada was to host the annual meeting of the G7 leaders in June that year in Charlevoix, Quebec. That would be Angela Merkel, Theresa May, Shinzu Abe, Guiseppe Conte, Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump.

The Prime Minister wanted to lift up women's inferior global status to great prominence at the meeting. He was setting up an Advisory Committee of 17 internationally-known women and one man to write a report for the leaders.

How on Earth I came to be on this committee is a mystery, but it turned out to be a memorable experience. When I asked Trudeau why me, he said, "For your voice, your experience and your grassroots connections."

Well, I have those, and they serve me well in Peterborough.

Macron was impressed by this gender analysis work, while Trump nearly scuttled it, gender not being his strong suit. I think he despises women, actually, and at our breakfast on June 9, he was late, rude and difficult. However, France continued the format when next it hosted the G7 in 2019.

I hesitate to mention that the 2020 G7 meeting is scheduled for Camp David in June. I'm sure there will be no Gender Council for that one.

Now the world faces the terrifying COVID-19 pandemic, and the two Gender Councils have drafted a strong, short statement directed at the G7 leaders. It is called "Step it Up, G7"

Though not yet universal, applying a gender-based analysis (GBA) to every policy, every decision, and every remark, is becoming more common. Canada is leading.

"Desperate times call for determined leadership," wrote the two councils "The COVID-19 virus is a common challenge to the whole world and reminds us as never before of our interdependence."
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