London organization to attend global summit about gender equality

The London Abused Women's Centre (LAWC) will represent Canada on the world stage at the Women 7 Summit in Paris next week.

The London-based organization is one of two Canadian groups invited to the event, which is focused on formulating recommendations around gender based violence.

Nova Scotia's Persons Against Non-State Torture (NST) has also been invited.

"This is a really incredible opportunity for the London Abused Women's Centre and City of London, and also for the province and country," said Megan Walker, executive direct of LAWC.

Theinvitation came as a surprise, said Walker, who initially thought the e-mail was a"hoax or spam."

"But, it was completely legitimate," she chuckled.

Walker will have the opportunity to have proactive discussions with global leaders about providing girls and women access to education and opportunities.

Information sharing

The recommendations that come out of the summit on May 9 and 10 will be submitted to an advisory committee, before potentially going forward to other G7 nations.

Walker said she willfocus on conversations around ending sexual violence against women and children.

"We are an agency that believes there is no justice as long as women are being abused and sexually assaulted," said Walker.

"There are a number of initiatives that we can share about what we're doing in Canada around education and shifting the culture for future generations, so that women are actually acknowledged, and girls are acknowledged as fully contributing human beings with equal rights rather than objects," she added.

In London, the centre has adopted the Every Woman Treaty, a campaign with aglobal goal to end violence against women. It was supported by city council. Walker said she hopes to bring that effort forward at the event next week.

"I think we can all learn so much from each other," she added.

There will be about 100 delegates at the summit.