Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As you and the Premier have mentioned, today is the 102
nd International Women’s Day. International Women’s Day is annually held on March 8
th to celebrate
women’s achievement throughout history and across nations. It is 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 friends, family and the 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 is a day to celebrate the women in our lives and our communities, to honour the advances women have made, but at the same time 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 I heard this morning on the radio: “Much has been accomplished, but much is still to be done.”
Of the world’s 1.3 billion poor people, nearly 70 percent are women. Between 75 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 between 30 to 40 percent less pay than men for the same work. Women also continue to be victims of violence. Rape and domestic violence are significant causes of disability and death among women worldwide.
This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is The Gender Agenda: Gaining Momentum. This theme reflects the belief that increasing women’s participation and access to leadership roles and opportunities will help women and girls thrive, reach their full potential and fulfill their dreams, and in doing so they will change our world for the better.
As mentioned by the Premier, we honour five NWT wise women today, who each, in their own way, have contributed to changing our world for the better. Congratulations to that formidable group of women, and let’s use this day to get fired up about women’s rights and empowerment, use this day to promote change in the lives of women all over the world.