For over 100 years, March 8th, International Women's Day, has been celebrated worldwide as a day to acknowledge women's labour contributions (paid and unpaid), and to advance political struggles for demilitarization, peace, land protection, and women's equality, especially in the public and civic spheres. It has also historically been a day of mobilizing conventions- women gathering from far and wide- to share their experiences, learn from each other, and develop strategies to improve women's quality of life. Feminism is a worldview where no one is left behind, where invisibilized struggles are rendered visible and solidarity is fostered across identities and experiences through active learning, listening and sacrifice.
In the tradition of International Women's Day actions, Women on the Rise is thrilled to be hosting our Special General Meeting today, in person, at Espace Knox this evening (!!!) We will be voting to update our legal purposes to include a wider eligibility for our membership base. The 2024 theme of IWD according to the UN is 'Inspire Inclusion', and this is exactly what we strive to do!
We invite you today to give thanks to the movements and the women behind them who struggled and dreamed to give us a better life today. The struggle continues, and Women on the Rise will continue to fight for recognition of women's diverse experiences, our inherent right to self-determination, and for the total equity of women and all individuals of marginalized genders at all intersections of oppression, now and forever. Happy IWD everyone!