Through the VOICE project, the National Association of Women and the Law is addressing systemic issues impacting the economic security and prosperity of marginalized women across Canada.
Launched this month, the VOICE working group will assist in identifying priority areas and provide input on NAWL’s law reform efforts impacting women’s economic security and prosperity. Working group members bring invaluable expertise and lived experience related to the challenges impacting women’s economic security in Canada. This makes them uniquely positioned to identify persisting barriers and propose practical, impactful solutions.
The VOICE Working Group includes representatives from the following organizations:
- Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council
- Amautiit Nunavut Inuit Women’s Association
- Yellowknife Women’s Society
- Disabled Women’s Network of Canada (DAWN)
- Women’s National Housing and Homelessness Network / National Indigenous Women’s Housing Network
- Accessible Housing Network
- Canadian Center for Women’s Empowerment
- Action Ontarienne: Centre juridique pour femmes de l’Ontario
- Family Services Toronto/ Campaign 2000
Priority areas for action include accessible and affordable housing, childcare, disability rights, economic abuse and economic security for rural, remote, Indigenous and racialized women and gender diverse people.
One example of the law reform this project undertakes occurred in September when NAWL submitted comments on the regulations for the new Canada Disability Benefit. Drawing on evidence provided by DAWN, NAWL advocated for increasing the benefit and decoupling eligibility requirements from the Disability Tax Credit to ensure the benefit is both accessible and effective in lifting disabled women out of poverty.
Moving forward, NAWL will collaborate with the working group to identify other opportunities for both proactive and responsive law reform to improve the economic security of marginalized women.
NAWL acknowledges the support of Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE).
