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"25%" Documentary on getting young women engaged in politics

Here is a trailer for a documentary project I have been involved with over the past year: 25%. This is a joint project between the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, London City Council, and web.isod.es (a web-based documentary maker based in London), that has been spearheaded by Joni Baechler, our wonderfully activist city Councillor and current interim Mayor. This is part of the Head Start Progam undertaken by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. So far I've taken part in a consciousness raising meeting at King's University College, UWO, officiated by Joni and the three female student council presidents from (King's, Huron and Brescia) and an UnConference with female senior highschool students from London. Earlier this summer I was interviewed by the documentary crew for the final documentary. I hope some of it makes it into the final project. The whole process has been particularly gratifying in meeting enthusiastic young women who are keen to find ways to be active and have their voices heard.

Please check out the trailer at: http://25percent.ca/

About 25%: A Documentary

The United Nations has set a minimum standard for representation by women. in democratic governments at 30%. This was further expressed in the 2011 General Assembly resolution on Women’s Political Participation, which states “that the active participation of women, on equal terms with men, at all levels of decision-making is essential to the achievement of equality, sustainable development, peace and democracy.”
Despite this reasonable target, active participation by women as representatives in municipal, provincial, and national governments in Canada is only 25%.
The City of London is proud to be one of the six communities in Canada selected to participate in the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Head Start for Young Women program. As a part of this program, we are producing a documentary called “25%” which encourages young women’s participation in politics and civil society.

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