Canada has recently decided to sign the Belém do Pará Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence Against Women. This is an important step forward for Canada, as the Convention explicitly recognizes that violence against women is a violation of human rights, establishing clear obligations and measures for states to appropriately address gender-based violence - especially through legislation and the courts. If Canada follows through with signing the convention, the United States will remain the only member of the Organization of American States (OAS) who has not adopted it.
Compiled from: Canada Takes a Major Step in Advancing Women's Rights, Equality Now, March 21, 2025.