International Women’s Day , March 8th,2023

Selfadvocatenet.ca is in Support of International Women’s Day.

This page is all about International Women’s Day March 8th,2023

We at San salute the contributions that women have made to society. Women with Disabilities opt to be respected. Bullying and Racism and Sexual Assaults are unacceptable that hurt women. Accept people for who they are – especially in the workplace and in public.

International Women’s Day Theme 2023

The aim of the IWD 2023 #EmbraceEquity campaign theme is to get the world talking about Why equal opportunities aren’t enough. People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action.

To Start what is International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.

International Women’s Day: A celebration of the strength, determination

and resiliency of everyday women

Today is International Women’s Day (IWD). Since the first IWD in 1911, this date has been devoted to celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. It has also been a reminder of the work still to be done in achieving gender equality.

Identifying as a woman in today’s political and social reality is not easy. Women continue to be denied education, overlooked and undercompensated for employment, sexually exploited, abused, and deprived of their sexual health and reproductive rights. These are not inherent features of being female, but a result of the way society views women.

Likewise, living with a disability is difficult. Not because of disability itself, but because of the way our society is structured. Navigating a world that was not built with you in mind is guaranteed to be challenging. Discrimination, exclusion and segregation, disproportionately high rates of poverty and victimization are the product of the widespread devaluation of people with disabilities.

So what does this mean for someone who is both a woman and a person with a disability? What if you’re also gay, transgender, indigenous or part of a racialized group? Being part of multiple marginalized groups, sometimes referred to as double discrimination, often means even more barriers. Individuals with disabilities who are faced with these barriers and “succeed” despite them, are often portrayed as heroes, superhuman people to be admired. The exception to the rule.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we want to offer a different perspective. An estimated one in five Canadians (or 6.2 million people) aged 15 years and over have a disability, and at least 53% of these people are women. We want to celebrate women with disabilities as regular women. Women who are often faced with barriers that are unfair. Women with strength, determination and passion.

As a national family-based organization, we work alongside these women and their allies every day. Consider these scenarios:

A teenage girl with an intellectual disability is participating in her high school’s mainstream health and sex education curriculum. Some people think she would be better off in a “special” class or that information about healthcare and sexuality is irrelevant for people with a disability.

Health care providers often do not support women with disabilities to seek preventative care, focusing instead on the medicalization of disability and not on the health conditions they face as women. Women with disabilities are less likely than women without disabilities to receive pelvic and mammogram exams on a regular basis and are therefore at a higher risk for delayed diagnosis of breast and cervical cancer.

A mother with an intellectual disability is working with a lawyer to maintain custody of her child. Her ability to parent is being questioned because of her disability.

Up until as late as the mid-1970s, thousands of women with intellectual and other disabilities were sterilized involuntarily in Canada under the British Columbia and Alberta Sexual Sterilization Acts.

People with an intellectual disability make up somewhere between 1-3% of the overall Canadian population, however parents with an intellectual disability are disproportionately represented within the child protection system. More than 1 in 10 child maltreatment investigations opened in Canada in 2003 involved children of parents with cognitive impairments.

Article 23 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities guarantees people with disabilities the right to family life, requires access to appropriate supports to raise children, and prohibits that a child be separated from their parent based on disability.

A young woman with an intellectual disability reports her experience with sexual assault to police, despite the risk that she may not be believed.

Women with disabilities are four times as likely to be victims of violence than non-disabled women, while women with multiple disabilities experience even higher rates of violence. Across Canada, few sexual assault crisis centres or transition houses are accessible to women with disabilities.

A woman with an intellectual disability expresses her desire to have choice and control over where she lives. Some professionals believe she isn’t capable of decision-making because of her disability.

A disproportionate number of women with disabilities live in congregate care living arrangements such as group homes or institutions, where they experience high stress factors and are at a higher risk of infections.

The mother of a child with an intellectual disability is advocating for additional government-funded supports for her daughter so she can remain in the workforce.

Mothers of children with intellectual disabilities are over-represented in unemployment and underemployment statistics due to being unable to work or needing to limit employment to stay home to support the needs of their child.

These are only a few examples of the ways that women with disabilities and their allies stand up to the inequality that exists in our communities. They are everyday women. While we’re grateful for their commitment and resolve, it shouldn’t be their responsibility to overcome these barriers. These barriers are preventable.

When we reflect on the scenarios above, it’s striking how each is inextricably linked to the way we value people. Whether or not someone belongs, whether their voice is heard, their opinion valued, or their choice respected, all ties back to whether we value that individual on an equal basis with others.

We live in a society that places value of the social roles we hold, the image we portray and the economic contributions we make. We have some wonderful Canadian examples of women with disabilities succeeding in government, politics, business, sports, communications and arts. We want to celebrate them, while also highlighting that they are not worthy of respect because of their achievements or their ability to “fit into society” despite their difference. Women with disabilities have inherent value as people, just for being themselves. That one key belief holds the power to dramatically shift the way we treat others, the types of policies we create and the kind of society we build.

This on Inclusion Canada website go to the link here

Premier’s, parliamentary secretary’s statement on International Women’s Day

Victoria Wednesday, March 8, 2023, 7:30 AM

Premier David Eby and Kelli Paddon, Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity, have issued the following statement for International Women’s Day:“On International Women’s Day, we celebrate all the women, girls, Two-Spirit and non-binary individuals in British Columbia. We recognize women are so often the cornerstone of our communities – and our economy.“We have a long history of incredible women who have worked hard to make our society better and more welcoming for everyone. We also know that more work is needed to ensure everyone is treated equally in our province, regardless of gender.“For this reason, we are very proud that yesterday our government introduced new pay transparency legislation for first reading in the legislature. This bill recognizes that many women are still paid less than men to do the same job. Pay transparency will help shine a light on B.C.’s gender pay gap and help move us closer to equal pay for equal work.“We are grateful to the many people from the private and public sector, labour unions, non-profits, advocacy groups and Indigenous communities who shared their views on how we can best tackle the gender pay gap in British Columbia.“The last few years have been challenging for everyone, but they have been especially hard for women. Women were disproportionately affected by the economic challenges of the pandemic and many also faced increases in gender-based violence during the crisis — a serious issue that persists.

“Our government has stepped up to help, and we’re going to continue to do so.

“We’ve introduced the BC Affordability Credit, which has helped 85% of British Columbians. Many families will also benefit from three enhanced BC Family Benefit payments this year, and in July 2023, the BC Family Benefit will be permanently increasing by 10%. On top of that, single parents will get as much as an extra $500 a year.

“We continue to expand access to affordable child care, which has allowed more women to join the workforce. Three-quarters of last year’s job growth in B.C. was driven by women’s employment. This reflects our government’s work to expand access to affordable and accessible child care. However, women are still all too often left out of high-paying, in-demand jobs. That’s why we’re improving training initiatives to close the skills gap.

“We are also delivering on our commitment to make prescription contraception free for all B.C. residents beginning April 1 – a first in Canada – because no one should face barriers to their own sexual and reproductive health.

“We can’t have true gender equity until everyone is free from violence. Work is underway to develop an action plan to address gender-based violence in British Columbia. At the same time, this is an urgent issue that demands action now.

“That’s why we’ve taken steps such as providing funding for community-based sexual assault response services, investing in safe housing and committing stable funding for more than 400 victim services and gender-based violence programs throughout the province. Our government is also moving forward with legislation to address the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, which is a form of malicious and exploitative sexualized violence.

“These past few years have reinforced that we are all in this together. It’s our shared responsibility to end all forms of discrimination and violence and build a better future for women, girls and Two-Spirit and non-binary people in British Columbia.”

Translations

This is on the BC Govt website go to the link here

Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on International Women’s Day

March 8, 2023, Ottawa, Ontario

Each and every day, women and girls help shape Canada into a fairer and stronger country. As we mark International Women’s Day, we celebrate and recognize the achievements of women and girls in Canada and reaffirm our commitment to removing systemic barriers to advance gender equality in Canada and around the world.

“This year’s theme, Every Woman Counts, is a reminder that all women, from all ages and walks of life, have a place in every aspect of Canadian society. With a disturbing recent rise in anti-transgender hate here in Canada, we reiterate today that trans women are women and we will always stand up to hate whenever and wherever it occurs.

“When we invest in empowering women and girls, we help entire families, communities, and societies succeed. That is why increasing women’s participation in the work force and closing the gender wage gap has long been a key priority for the Government of Canada, and why supporting and empowering women and girls will continue to be at the heart of the decisions we make.

“Last year, labour force participation for working-age women in Canada reached a record-high 85 per cent. This was bolstered by our Canada-wide early learning and child care system, which is already delivering $10-a-day child care in nearly half of Canadian provinces and territories and has reduced fees by at least 50 per cent in all other jurisdictions, with work on track to reach $10-a-day across the country in just three years. In addition, we launched the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, which has provided funding to address systemic barriers to women’s equality and advance their full and equal participation in the economy through greater access to financing, mentorship, and training. By enabling more women, especially mothers, to participate in the workforce, and by advocating for gender parity at the management level through programs like the 50 – 30 Challenge, we build better futures for everyone.

“Internationally, Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy continues to guide our efforts to advance gender equality around the world. In 2021-22, Canada allocated 99 per cent of its bilateral international development assistance toward initiatives that either targeted or integrated gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. This included funding to tackle gender-based discrimination and to provide access to sexual and reproductive health services to ensure women and girls can exercise their right to make decisions about their own bodies. It also included funding to help more women start a business or secure decent work. Canada is committed to supporting the efforts of women leaders and feminist groups that work tirelessly and bravely to promote peace and protect the rights of women and vulnerable groups, including through the Women’s Voice and Leadership program and the co-creation of the Alliance for Feminist Movements. Working with our international partners, we will continue to make gender equality a priority, for the benefit of women, girls, and all people around the world.

“On this International Women’s Day, I invite all Canadians to amplify the voices of women and girls, celebrate their enormous contributions in every aspect of Canadian society, and stand up for a more equal and equitable world.”

This is on Justin Trudeau’s website go to the link here

Best International Women’s Day Quotes of All Time | Top Women’s Day Quotes To Inspire & Motivate You

International Women’s Day websites check out

THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN AND GIRLS WITH DISABILITIES
Towards Full and Effective Participation and Gender Equality

Your rights: Information for women and young people with disabilities

Women of Impact on human rights

Learn more about the women who have made an impact on human rights as activists, jurists, feminists, and lawyers. Read their stories and be inspired by their commitment to upholding justice and advancing important social causes.

Traci Walters

Traci Walters is an award-winning educator on people with disabilities who advocates for an independent living philosophy, nationally and internationally. She served as National Director of Independent Living Canada from 1993-2010. Prior to this, she was the founding executive director of the Niagara Centre for Independent Living. In 1996, Traci was elected Community Observer to the Liberal Task Force on Disability Issues.

This effort resulted in the tabling of the Equal Citizenship for Canadians with Disabilities: The Will to Act Report.In 1999, she received the Founders Award from the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto. In 2002, she was instrumental in obtaining support from Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and the Secretary of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, whereby they declared the worldwide theme for the United Nations International Day of Disabled Persons to be “Independent Living and Sustainable Livelihood.” She has given workshops in Bosnia, Moscow, Japan, and at the Disabled Persons’ International World Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, in 2007. It was there that she was awarded an international Meritorious Service Medal by the World Movement for Independent Living for Endless Effort and Passionate Heart. In 2008, Traci was selected to participate in the Governor General’s Leadership Conference. In 2010, Traci was selected to travel to the United Nations Headquarters in New York to participate in Canada’s ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the first international treaty that comprehensively recognizes the rights of persons with disabilities.

Maria Barile
(1953 – 2013)

Maria Barile was an extraordinary woman who championed the rights of people with disabilities in Canada for more than 30 years.

A leader in the disability rights movement, she began her fight for social justice and the elimination of all forms of violence and discrimination against persons with disabilities, particularly women, in the early 1980s in Montreal.

Maria broke down barriers and misconceptions in education with her own achievements. After receiving a diploma from Dawson College, where she started the first support group for students with disabilities, she completed a qualifying year in order to be admitted to McGill University. She had to convince administrators that a hearing impairment and a neurological disorder would not prevent her from completing a degree. She finished the year at the top of her class and then went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social sciences, writing a thesis on the dual oppression experienced by women with disabilities (“Femmes & handicap: la double oppression”).

Maria was one of the founders of DisAbled Women’s Network of Canada (DAWN) Canada and Action des femmes handicapées de Montréal (AFHM). She also co-founded and co-directed ADAPTECH, a research lab on adaptive technology and postsecondary education, where she was one of the most active researchers. She later founded ÉcoACCESS, her own consulting company, focused on universal accessibility and sustainable development.

Maria was also actively involved in the development of a national action plan to promote equal access and greater inclusion for vulnerable individuals. She spent her life helping others, and in her mother’s later years was one of her caregivers.

This is on Govt of Canada website go to the link here

INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE, AND EDUCATION IN THE DIGITAL AGE FOR ACHIEVING GENDER EQUALITY AND THE EMPOWERMENT OF ALL WOMEN AND GIRLS
Expert guidance and substantive inputs to preparations for the 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women