Global Centenary Year of International Women’s Day

OTTAWA — On March 8th, the Green Party of Canada is celebrating one hundred years of International Women’s Day. “Hopefully in another hundred years, there won’t be any need to have a day specific to women because equality will have been achieved,” said Green Leader Elizabeth May. “Until then, we encourage everyone to take part in International Women’s Day celebrations and continue to work for change.”

International Women’s Day began in Europe in 1911 with events attended by over one million people campaigning for the end of discrimination against women.

“Although there have been many dramatic changes over the last century, we still need to consider on this day how we can continue to improve in Canada and globally,” said May. “In Canada, we still need to work toward more women in politics and senior positions and full pay equity. Globally, there is still much to be done until we reach simple equality of human rights, access to health care, education, and economic autonomy.”

The Green Party is advocating the reinstatement of funds to groups such as MATCH, Planned Parenthood and KAIROS that have a specific focus on gender in international development. Among the best ways to break down barriers and advance opportunities for women are through poverty eradication, programs in reproductive rights, programs to eliminate the financial barriers to education, affordable child care, affordable housing, and encouraging involvement in the political process.

“The power of women to change their world is immense,” said Rebecca Harrison, Green Status of Women’s Critic. “In Canada, women represent over half of the population but less than 21 percent of Parliamentarians are women. We need to continue to encourage women to get involved—in doing so, they can change the tone of politics in this country as well as instituting policies that further the goals of full equality for women.”