World marking 30th anniversary of International Women's Day

'Equality - not 'til every piece is in place.'

Ottawa (5 March 2007) - On March 8th Canadians will celebrate the 30th anniversary of International Women’s Day. This important day was established in 1977 by the United Nations with the purpose of acknowledging the vital contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security.

Since that time, International Women’s Day has come to symbolize how far women around the world have come in their struggle for equality and to recognize as well the many challenges that remain.

Canadian Challenges

On this International Women’s Day, Canadian women are faced with serious challenges. In recent months Stephen Harper’s Conservative government has made a series of decisions that seriously undermine equality for women in Canada. They have cancelled federal/provincial child care agreements, eliminated the Court Challenges Program and refused to implement a proactive pay equity law.

The government has also cut funding to the Status of Women Canada by 38.5% and closed 12 of the 16 offices. The funding rules have now been changed so that women’s groups which do research or advocate for equality are no longer eligible. And “equality” has been eliminated from the mandate of Status of Women Canada.

“For decades Canadian women have fought to put all the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that is equality together. Now rather than coming closer to a complete picture of equality, pieces are being taken out,” stated James Clancy, national president of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE).

“I am inviting groups and individuals across Canada to join us in celebrating women’s rights and fighting the recent attacks on women’s equality by distributing a new poster entitled ‘Equality – not ‘til every piece is in place’ created for International Women’s Day.

“Together let’s make sure the government hears the message that we will continue to fight until every piece of women’s equality is in place.” NUPGE

More information:
• Poster: Equality – not ‘til every piece is in place