Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Tomorrow is the 103rd International Women’s Day. International Women’s Day is annually held on March 8th to celebrate women’s achievements throughout history and across nations. It’s also known as the United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace.
On this day we all need to spread the message of women’s empowerment to our families, friends and men in our lives. It’s a day that connects women around the world and celebrates the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. It’s a day to celebrate the women in our lives and in our communities, to honour the advances women have made. But at the same time, we need to remember the need for continued action to ensure that the equality fought for and gained by women who have passed before us is maintained in all aspects of our society.
To quote an old advertising slogan, “We’ve come a long way, baby,” but I must echo a quote heard recently, “Much has been accomplished and much is still to be done.”
Of the world’s 1.3 billion poor people, nearly 70 percent are women. Between 75 percent and 80 percent of the world’s 27 million refugees are women and children. And of the world’s nearly 130 million children who are not in school, two-thirds are girls.
On average, women earn 30 to 40 percent less than men for the same work. Women also continue to be victims of violence, rape and domestic violence, which are significant causes of disability and death among women worldwide.
This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is Inspiring Change. It encourages advocacy for
women’s advancement everywhere in every way. It calls for challenging the status quo for women’s equality and vigilance inspiring positive change.
Tomorrow we will honour five NWT wise women, who each in their own way have contributed to changing the world for the better. The 2014 winners are Karen Willy, North Slave; Pamela Faith Gordon, Beaufort-Delta; Patricia Modeste, Sahtu; Sister Margaret Ann Beaudette, South Slave; and Harriet Geddes for the Deh Cho. Congratulations to that formidable group of women, Mr. Speaker. Let’s use tomorrow to get fired up about women’s rights and empowerment and use the day to promote changes in the lives of women all over the world. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
