Happy International Women's Day

International Women's Day was originally initiated with the goal of facilitating women's rights and equality. Yet, over 100 years later, women, in all parts of the world, are still faced with numerous human rights violations on a daily basis. Women often work more than men, yet they are paid less; gender discrimination affects girls and women throughout their lives, and women and girls often suffer the most poverty.

Although it is fundamental that we try to raise awareness about the issues that women on the global scale are faced with, it is also important to acknowledge the issues facing women in our own community. That is why I am attending a lecture series, here in Victoria, entitled, "Prostitution and Women's Equality: Imagining More for Women." The lectures are about the sexual exploitation of girls and women in the commercial sex trade which is a human rights crisis and a direct hindrance to women's equality. 

So, if you have the time, you should definitely try to participate in your local International Women's day event, and learn about the issues that are hindering women's equality in your city. It is important to mark the economic political and social achievements of women, so that one day, women too will be considered as equal.

Love,

Karen