Issue 92 – 26, March 8, 2026
Big Win for Older Women: A Historic Step by the UN
Recently, a big change happened that could help improve the lives of many women around the world. For the first time in its history, the United Nations’ Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) focused on older women. This is a huge achievement because older women have often been ignored in discussions about gender equality.
For many years, gender equality has mainly focused on young women and girls. People talk about helping girls get education, fighting violence, and making sure women have good jobs. But what about women as they get older? Older women face many problems, like poverty, poor health, and violence. Yet they were rarely discussed or helped.
This new focus means that older women are finally being recognized. The CSW is paying attention to their needs and rights. This is an important step toward fairness for women of all ages.
Older women face many tough challenges:
Poverty: Many older women don’t have enough money or pensions to live comfortably. In some countries, older women are much less likely than men to get pensions. Some must rely on their families or even beg to survive.
Health Problems: Older women often live longer than men but spend many years in poor health. They may suffer from diseases like osteoporosis or heart problems. Sadly, healthcare systems often ignore their needs.
Violence: Violence doesn’t stop when women turn 50. Older women still face domestic abuse, financial exploitation, and discrimination. During COVID-19, violence against older women increased.
War and Crises: In times of war or disasters, older women are often left behind. They may lose their homes, support, and access to food and medicine.
Work and Power: Many older women continue working in low-paid jobs or caring for family members without support. They are rarely seen in leadership roles or government positions.
To truly help older women, governments and organizations must do more:
- Collect better data to understand their specific needs.
- Create policies that include support for older women, like pensions and healthcare.
- Listen to their voices and involve them in making decisions.
- Recognize that women face challenges throughout their entire life, not just when they are young.
By including older women in the fight for gender equality, we move closer to a fairer world. Everyone, no matter their age, deserves respect, support, and the chance to live a healthy, safe, and dignified life.
The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and Unions that actively participate in the United Nations are encouraged to promote older women in gender equality work. This historic step by the CSW shows that the world is starting to see older women as important and valuable members of society. Now, the next step is for governments and communities to turn this recognition into real actions that improve the lives of older women everywhere. And countries like Canada could help lead the way!
Canadian activists must work hard to make sure that the voices of older women are heard. By including older women in the fight for gender equality, we move closer to a fairer world. Everyone, no matter their age, deserves respect, support, and the chance to live a healthy, safe, and dignified life.
Read more - A historic breakthrough: for the first time, CSW recognises older women - HelpAge International
Watch – The CLC will be live broadcasting from our CLC hosted parallel event at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) on March 11th at 8:30 a.m. EDT: Union Women Rise Up for Gender Justice! This event will include sharing how trade union women in Canada have strategically navigated legal systems to defend gains and advance gender justice, including using collective bargaining, grievance and arbitration, health and safety, pay and employment equity and human rights.
Pre-registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/
How Alberta is Breaking the Rules of the Canada Health Act
Alberta's new law is changing how healthcare works in Canada. It will hurt the idea of equal health care for all and breaks the rules of the Canada Health Act.
In December 2025, Alberta made a big change to its healthcare system. It became the first province in Canada to allow a two-tier healthcare system. This means some people can pay privately to get faster medical care, while others have to wait longer in the public system. This is against the rules of the Canada Health Act, which is a law that makes sure everyone in Canada has equal access to healthcare.
Two-tier healthcare means there are two kinds of medical services: one for people who can pay for faster care, and another for those who rely on the public system. Alberta's new law, called Bill 11, allows doctors to work both in the public system and in private clinics at the same time. This is called "dual practice." It means doctors can charge patients directly for some services, even if those services are supposed to be covered by the government.
This new system will make wait times worse for people in the public system. Since doctors can earn more money in private clinics, they might spend less time in hospitals that serve everyone equally. Also, private insurance companies will start offering plans to cover private care, which could make healthcare more expensive overall. This could lead to higher costs for everyone and make it harder for people with less money to get care.
Yes. The Canada Health Act says that healthcare must be fair and available to everyone. It says provinces should not charge extra or create a system where some people get better treatment than others. Alberta's new law allows private payments for services that should be free for everyone, which goes against the principles of the Canada Health Act. If provinces start doing this across Canada, it could end the idea of universal healthcare that makes sure everyone is treated equally.
When other provinces follow Alberta's example, this will threaten the future of Medicare, the system that provides free healthcare to Canadians. It's important for the federal government to step in and make sure that all Canadians get fair and equal healthcare, no matter how much money they have.
Read more – CURC has signed on with 22 other organizations in a letter to the Prime Minister and Minister of Health
CDM_Letter_to_PMO_-_Alberta’s_