Over 200 women signed the Press for Progress letter at the recent International Women’s Day celebration on 8 March 2018, at Mt Albert War Memorial Hall.
The event was led by the Auckland Regional Migrant Service, with the support of the Ethnic Communities Development Fund.
The letter, addressed to the Minister for Women, encourages ongoing progress on issues such as:
- Valuing women’s contribution in the labour market through equal employment opportunities;
- Increasing women’s representation in leadership through grassroots training, education, and mentoring opportunities;
- Improving the lives of women in employment through equal pay; and
- Increasing the safety of women and girls by taking a proactive advocacy and response approach to violence.
The guest speakers at the event included Professor Edwina Pio, Nurain Janah; Denise Roche, Judith Mukakayange, and Priyanca Radhakrishnan.
Auckland Regional Migrant Service Chief Executive, Rochana Sheward made the following comment:
“As we are celebrating the 125th anniversary of women’s suffrage in New Zealand, which gave all women in New Zealand the right to vote, we must recognise that there’s a lot more that needs to be done in order for our women to progress, socially, economically and politically.”
The International Women’s Day celebration was led by Auckland Regional Migrant Services, in partnership with the Auckland Resettled Community Coalition, Bharitya Samaj Charitable Trust, Multi-educational Support and Services, NZ Ethnic Women’s Network Inc., NZ Red Cross, Positive Women Inc., and Shanti Niwas.
The Ethnic Communities Development fund is administered by the Office of Ethnic Communities.