March 4, 2009
Media advisory
Women gather at UN to condemn the Harper government's record on women's rights
NEW YORK—Representatives of women's organizations and labour unions will gather in front of the gates of the United Nations tomorrow to condemn the Harper government's record on women's equality. They will also be announcing their intention to file a complaint with the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Helena Guergis, Minister of Status of Women Canada, is set to speak to the UN Commission on the Status of Women tomorrow. Women's rights advocates are concerned that this will serve as an opportunity for the Harper government to use an international stage to make claims about its record on women rights, while it simultaneously destroys the right to pay equity at home.
Representatives from the Public Service Alliance of Canada, the Syndicat de la fonction publique du Québec, the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, the Feminist Alliance for International Action and several others will announce their intention to file a complaint with the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in regard to the Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act, which they say will severely curtail the rights of women in the federal public sector to demand equal pay for work of equal value. The bill is currently being rushed through the Canadian Parliament as part of the Budget Implementation Act (Bill C-10).
WHO:
Representatives of women's groups and labour unions.
WHAT:
Condemning the Canadian government's record on women's rights and announcing their intention to file a complaint with the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
WHERE:
Front gates of the United Nations Plaza, New York City (1st and 46th Avenue).
WHEN:
Thursday, March 5, 2009, 2:00 p.m.
For more information, contact:
Andrée Côté, Women's and Human Rights Officer, PSAC - 613-290-5899 (cell)
12-040309
Date Modified : 2010/07/29
