Research publications

United Nations General Assembly resolution 76/269, declaring June 24 of each year the International Day of Women in Diplomacy, recognizes the contributions that women make in this field. It notes their global underrepresentation in diplomacy and invites member states and other stakeholders to observe the day in a manner they consider appropriate, including through education and activities that raise public awareness, to promote the “full and equal participation of women at all levels of diplomacy.” This HillNote provides an overview and brief history of Canadian women in diplomacy.

The year 2025 marks several significant anniversaries for international gender equality mechanisms. This HillNote is the first in a series of publications throughout 2025 marking these milestones. It summarizes the international gender equality framework that applies to Canada, a founding member of the UN in 1945, and provides information on Canada’s progress toward gender equality.

Women’s right to full and equal participation in the public and political life of their country is recognized by the 1979 United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The proportion or number of parliamentarians who are women – also referred to as the descriptive representation of women – is often used to measure the achievement of this right. Beyond the statistics though, women and diverse groups are represented in political institutions in other ways (formalistic, descriptive, symbolic and substantive representation), some of which are examined in this HillNote.

On 31 October 2000, following decades of lobbying by civil society organizations, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) was unanimously adopted. It is the first United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) to focus on empowering women as active agents of peace and security. The WPS agenda, set out in UNSCR 1325 and subsequent UN resolutions, is based on four pillars: the participation of women in peace processes and in peace and security institutions; the protection of women and girls in situations of armed conflict; the prevention of violence against women and girls; and the need to ensure that a gender lens is applied to post-conflict relief and recovery efforts. The 25th anniversary of this landmark resolution provides an opportunity to reflect on the WPS agenda.