(OTTAWA) – Today, during International Women’s Day, the Green Party of Canada joins Canadians as they celebrate the achievements of women in this country and around the world:
“Women enrich our society socially, politically, and economically,” stated Elizabeth May, Party Leader and MP (Saanich-Gulf Islands). “While progress has been made since Canadian women earned the right to vote in 1918, we recognize that the struggle for equality – from income inequality in developed nations to human rights violations elsewhere – is still very much a reality.
“By embarking on meaningful policy action in government, we can advance equality and accelerate gender parity,” May said. “The establishment of a Special Committee on Pay Equity is an important step towards the abolishment of inequality and gender bias in the workplace.
“We also need to take meaningful action on a national inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, and advance programs at university campuses and across our societal institutions that confront violence against women as a whole. There is still much work to be done.”
International Women’s Day was first recognized by the U.N. General Assembly in 1977 and is celebrated on March 8 every year. This year’s theme is Pledge for Parity.