In the wake of a startling year for women's rights around the world, there is a feeling that we have a lot to be proud of as Canadians. We have a prime minister who calls himself a feminist -- a word previously taboo even among women's groups -- we have a gender-balanced federal cabinet where women hold some of the highest positions of power in the country, and the appointment of new Canadian senators who are some of the leading feminist advocates in the country.

So, are we there? Have we achieved equality for women in Canada? The answer, unsurprisingly, is not yet.

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As a law student at Canada Without Poverty I have been watching human rights violations unfold in British Columbia over the Super InTent City case. After years of experiencing human rights only in the classroom, I have been full of emotions over the past eight months as I watched over 100 people who are homeless forced to fight for their community and basic rights.

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Right now in Victoria, British Columbia over 100 individuals have created a community on the courthouse lawn. It's a community like most others -- except, everyone is homeless.

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Canada is on the threshold of change, showing clear intentions of becoming an international human rights leader. But are we ready to walk through the door?

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This past week, in Geneva, the world watched as Canada was put to task on how we measure up in terms of economic and social rights. After days of meetings and presentations to the members of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Canada was in the hot seat responding to concerns about the almost 5 million people living in poverty within our borders.

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Five million is a staggering number. The sheer scope is so large that it is hard to visualize. Add the complexity of poverty and the number is suffocating. It emits a sense of urgency -- a clear call to action that should be hard to ignore. Yet this is what happens when the conversation turns to poverty and human rights. It seems generally that people don't clearly understand poverty in Canada, nor how their own human rights even fit into the picture.

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Editor's note: This is a speech given at the 57th Session of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (22 Feb 2016 - 04 Mar 2016), Formal NGO Briefing, 22 February 2016.  Speaking Notes presented by Harriett McLachlan, President of the Board of Directors.

Thank you Mr. Chairman,

Canada Without Poverty was the first NGO ever to appear before this Committee, back in 1993, and it is great honour to return.