For Immediate Release
March 8, 2011

Each year, International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated around the world with hundreds of events, not only on this day but throughout the month of March, to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women. 

In fact, 2011 is the global centenary of IWD—100 years since the first International Women's Day event. The theme for IWD 2011 is “Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women.” 

For these reasons, the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) proudly joins with the international community today in celebrating the momentous contributions of women both at home and abroad in building towards a more just and equitable world.

“Unfortunately, despite decades of steady and dedicated efforts of women in Canada, support for gender equality in this country has sharply declined under the present government,” stated CASW President, Darlene MacDonald. “In fact, sadly, the term ‘gender equality’ has been removed from the mandate of Status of Women Canada.”

Simply put, the lived reality of women in Canada does not warrant the removal of gender equality and the services that support it from the mandate of Status of Women Canada. Women now make up more than one-half of all students enrolled in undergraduate programs in Canadian universities, yet women working in academia experience the same wage gap as women working in other fields—earning 79 cents on every dollar that their male peers earn.

On another level, women experience even more inequality, given that overall, the rate of poverty among women in Canada is higher than among men. And particular groups of women, including single mothers, Aboriginal women, women of colour, immigrant women, women with disabilities and single women, all face shockingly high rates of poverty.  

“The Government of Canada has an opportunity in Budget 2011 to reset its priorities and once again make gender equality a laudable goal for this country,” stated MacDonald. “The shortchanging of women in Canada today is an expense that this country cannot afford—and its effects will reach far into the future.” 

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For more information:
Darlene MacDonald, President
casw@casw-acts.ca 
Tel.: 613.729.6668