Kingston: The Kingston and District Labour Council (KDLC) Women's Committee will give a brief report on the status of women in our community, province and country at a press conference on Thursday March 7, 2002, Steelworkers Hall at 10:30 A.M.

International Women's Day is celebrated around the world on March 8th, each year and the KDLC Women's Committee and community representatives will speak at the press conference.

For the women of the world, the Day's symbolism has a wider meaning: It is an occasion to review how far they have come in their struggle for equality, peace and development. It is also an opportunity to unite, network and mobilize for meaningful change.

In recent decades, the world's women have made tremendous progress towards achieving equality with men. Women's access to education and proper health care has increased; their participation in the paid labour force has grown; and legislation that promises equal opportunities for women and respect for their human rights has been adopted in many countries.

However, nowhere in the world can women claim to have the same rights and opportunities as men. They continue to be among the poorest: the majority of the world's 1.5 billion absolute poor are women. Three-quarters of the women over 25 in much of Asia and Africa are illiterate. On the average, women receive between 30 and 40 per cent less pay than men earn for the same work. Everywhere women continue to be victims of violence, with rape and domestic violence listed as significant causes of disability and death among women of reproductive age worldwide.

International Women's Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the 145 years since the day was first marked by women garment and textile workers in New York, and in the 94 years since “Bread and Roses” became a song and symbol of the struggle.