International Women’s Day is celebrated at the Manitoba Legislative Building. READ MORE
March 8, 2013
PROVINCE CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY BY HONOURING WOMEN LEADING TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE
– – –We must Build on Their Successes, Keep Moving Forward: Howard
Manitobans are recognizing the importance of increasing women’s representation in leadership roles as a way to achieve equality in social, legal, education, health and economic fields, Family Services and Labour Minister Jennifer Howard, minister responsible for the status of women, said today as she joined the celebration marking International Women’s Day.
“To acknowledge and honour the outstanding accomplishments of women in Manitoba and around the world is only the first stage. We must build upon their successes and keep moving forward,” said Howard. “The movement toward gender equality has traditionally been led by women. It is encouraging that men are becoming increasingly engaged in advancing women’s equal place in society.”
Manitoba recently launched two public awareness campaigns with this focus under a multi-year domestic violence prevention strategy. The province worked with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Broadway Neighbourhood Centre to encourage men and boys to recognize that they can make a difference by challenging violence against women and girls. Videos for both of these campaigns can be viewed at www.manitoba.ca/stoptheviolence.
Howard noted, in recognizing that violence against women is everyone’s business, the province has also launcheda new page on the www.manitoba.ca/stoptheviolence site that focuses on ways friends, family and acquaintances can help someone being abused within a relationship.
Howard recently returned from the United Nations’ 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York where Manitoba’s campaign with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers was highlighted in a session about engaging men and boys in preventing violence.
“Over the last week, I have met women and men from countries all over the world who are working to end violence against women and girls,” said Howard. “Some of these activists risk their lives by speaking up for gender equality. We must continue to honour their courage by making change in our institutions, communities and families to stem the global epidemic of violence against women and girls.”
At today’s event, Howard introduced the publication, Women in Manitoba: Leading Transformative Change which highlights the progress being made on women’s equality in Manitoba, progress she said is due in large part to women’s leadership. The publication’s topics have been identified as issues of concern by the Manitoba Women’s Advisory Council and include education and training, violence against women, poverty and economic security, and women’s health.“To acknowledge and honour the outstanding accomplishments of women in Manitoba and around the world is only the first stage. We must build upon their successes and keep moving forward,” said Howard. “The movement toward gender equality has traditionally been led by women. It is encouraging that men are becoming increasingly engaged in advancing women’s equal place in society.”
Manitoba recently launched two public awareness campaigns with this focus under a multi-year domestic violence prevention strategy. The province worked with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Broadway Neighbourhood Centre to encourage men and boys to recognize that they can make a difference by challenging violence against women and girls. Videos for both of these campaigns can be viewed at www.manitoba.ca/stoptheviolence.
Howard noted, in recognizing that violence against women is everyone’s business, the province has also launcheda new page on the www.manitoba.ca/stoptheviolence site that focuses on ways friends, family and acquaintances can help someone being abused within a relationship.
Howard recently returned from the United Nations’ 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York where Manitoba’s campaign with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers was highlighted in a session about engaging men and boys in preventing violence.
“Over the last week, I have met women and men from countries all over the world who are working to end violence against women and girls,” said Howard. “Some of these activists risk their lives by speaking up for gender equality. We must continue to honour their courage by making change in our institutions, communities and families to stem the global epidemic of violence against women and girls.”
Featured guest speakers included Ila Bussidor, former member, Manitoba Women’s Advisory Council and former chief and band councillor, Saysi Dene First Nation; Ajit Kaur Deol, commissioner, Manitoba Human Rights Commission; Silvia de Sousa, lawyer; and Sappfyre McLeod, high school student and youth activist.
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