Kubinec attending UN session on ending violence against women

Maureen Kubinec, PCs
Maureen Kubinec, PCs
By Morinville News Staff

Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock MLA Maureen Kubinec is off to New York as part of Canada’s delegation at the 57th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) from Mar. 4 to 6. The Honourable Rona Ambrose, federal Minister for the Status of Women, invited Alberta to be part of the Canadian delegation, and Kubinec was selected to represent the province there.

“While woman have made great strides in today’s world, we know many women still face difficult challenges and we also know that Alberta has the second highest rate of self-reported spousal violence in the country,” Kubinec said in a press release on the trip. “This is why we must continue to take action on women’s issues. Our ongoing participation in local and international events is vital as it provides us the opportunity to learn best practices and evaluate our approaches.”

Kubinec will be joined on the trip by Calgary Varsity MLA Donna Kennedy-Glans. Cost of the trip, including accommodation and meals for the two MLAs and accompanying Human Services staff member is approximately $7,500.

The UNCSW session brings experts from around the world together each year to set global standards and policies to achieve gender equality and the advancement of all women.

Dave Hancock, Alberta’s Minister of Human Services, will be working with both MLAs to put the knowledge gained by the two MLAs into practice to ensure the province’s work to end violence against women continues.