Summary
Today, we celebrate International Women’s Day – a day to highlight the success and leadership of women around the world and acknowledge the work that lies ahead towards achieving full gender equality.
The UN theme this year is “Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world” in recognition of the immense contributions of women serving on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19.
Women make up the majority of the essential frontline workers in several sectors, including health care, social services and retail. They also represent the majority of workers in the education, childcare and early years sectors, which we know are vital for our children’s well-being, and supporting our working parents during the pandemic.
We are determined that women will not be left behind, and will in fact make a strong contribution to Ontario’s economic recovery.
Key Messages
We celebrate International Women’s Day to highlight the success and leadership of women around the world – and to acknowledge the work that lies ahead towards achieving full gender equality.
· Our government knows that the COVID-19 outbreak has disproportionately impacted the economic and social well-being of women, both at home and in the workplace.
· We also know women have made immense contributions on the front lines of the pandemic in the health care, social services, retail, education, childcare and early years sectors.
· From the nurses, doctors, personal support workers, researchers at our post-secondary institutions, childcare and early years workers and more, women have been risking their lives and we say thank you.
· To the women who are running businesses, the women who are building our hospitals and homes, the women who are working and taking care of the kids at home, we say thank you.
· We already know how phenomenal women and girls are and the important role they play in each one of our lives. COVID has only made it clearer that Ontario would not operate without the extraordinary women who have stepped in and stepped up to protect our province.
· As we work to safely reopen Ontario’s economy, we will continue to build a province where every woman and girl is empowered to succeed. Because promoting women’s full economic participation supports Ontario’s continued growth and prosperity.
News Links
English: https://news.ontario.ca/en/statement/60591/ontario-celebrates-international-womens-day
French: https://news.ontario.ca/fr/statement/60592/lontario-celebre-la-journee-internationale-des-femmes