More views on International Women's Day 2010

NEWS RELEASES

TONY MARTIN, MP

CAROL HUGHES, MP

************************* International Women’s Day

'We can and must to do better for women in Canada and abroad' - Tony Martin OTTAWA - Women and men around the world recognize International Women's Day as a time to reflect upon and celebrate women’s social, political and economic achievements, both globally and locally.

In this country, much progress has been made since Canadians first marked International Women’s Day in 1977. Sadly, there is still much work to be done.

Women across the world continue to suffer extreme poverty, violence and violations of their basic human rights. "It is important to take advantage of International Women’s day to recognize what has been achieved and still yet to be done,” Sault MP Tony Martin said. “Women still bear the brunt of responsibility for family while often living in poverty. Internationally the scourge of epidemic poverty and disease continues to fall on the shoulders of mothers and grandmothers. We can and must to do better." Last month, the Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action and the Canadian Labour Congress sent the United Nations a detailed report on the statistical decline in Canadian women’s equality and rights.

The groups cited “systemic erosion” in the status of Canadian women since 2004. The Conservative government, led by Stephen Harper, has undermined the important advancements essential for the security of women by: - Eliminating the phrase "gender equality" from the mandate of Canada’s primary institution responsible for gender equality in Canada: Status of Women; and while the word equality was re-introduced to the mandate, the spirit of equality has not been re-established

- Failing to meet the commitment to the implementation of gender-based analysis throughout its departments and agencies

- Closing 12 of 16 Status of Women offices

- Ignoring recommendations made by the 2004 Pay Equity Task Force Report, and placing pay equity negotiations back on the bargaining table

- Eliminating funding for the court challenges program, a program established to provide assistance to court cases related to equality rights guaranteed under Canada’s Constitution

- Failing to create and implement a national childcare strategy; $100-a-month in universal child benefits does not alleviate financial strain for impoverished mothers, especially single ones, who must work to support their families

- Decreasing levels of financial and human resources allocated to gender-equality projects within the Canadian International Development Agency and the Department of Foreign Affairs

- Failing to address violence against women

- Failing to effectively improve the lives of aboriginal women, establishing a comprehensive national response to meet the specific needs of aboriginal women

- Lacking strategies to address the specific challenges faced by women of colour, women from the LGBTT communities, and women with mental and physical difficulties

- Failing to improve women’s pension rights.

New Democrats believe that Canadian women deserve fairness, affordability, opportunity, equal pay for work of equal value, a decent standard of living, and the freedom to live without fear. We will continue to fight for equality. New Democrats celebrate International Women’s Day.

We will never stop in our efforts to ensure the full and equal rights of all women. ************************* Hughes marks International Women's Day at work: can't take past victories for granted

OTTAWA (March 8, 2010) - Carol Hughes is celebrating International Women’s Day at work, an everyday occurrence that captures the spirit of the day and highlights some of the key historical victories of the women’s movement.

“One hundred years ago women didn’t have the vote. Today, I sit in Parliament with many talented women from diverse backgrounds,” said Hughes from her West Block Office. “Young girls growing up today will have no experience of a Parliament with very few women and I think that’s an important shift in our culture.”

Hughes is quick to remind that despite many historic gains the work is clearly not done.

“There are many challenges that remain and it is important for women not to accept an incomplete job.”

“It comes down to choices,” states Hughes. “We saw how in the last few years the Court Challenges Program was shelved, how the majority of stimulus spending went to male-dominated work and we have to remind ourselves these are choices made by our government. We have to ask ourselves, would a government that had equal representation at the cabinet table make the same choices?”

2010 marks the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day.

The theme for this year’s celebration is Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All.

Hughes is encouraging people to attend celebrations and events being held throughout the riding.

************************* Earlier SooToday.com coverage of this story

Some thoughts on the 100th International Women's Day