Premier Caroline Cochrane issued the following statement on International Women’s Day:

“Today we commemorate International Women’s Day, a global celebration of the women and girls in our lives who have made immeasurable contributions to making the Northwest Territories, Canada, and the world, a better place for everyone. 

A little over a century ago, women were fighting for the right to vote, and the right to stand for office. Fast forward to 2019, and Northwest Territories residents voted in the first gender-balanced Legislature in Canadian history. This wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for trailblazing feminists and activists who fought for what they believed in and challenged the status quo of a system that was created with a significant gender imbalance.

We have made great strides as a society to advance gender equality – but we still have a lot of work to do. Women continue to face gender-based barriers and discrimination, and these obstacles make it difficult for women to get an equal footing.  We must continue to work together to develop and implement strategies to eliminate these barriers,  prevent violence against women and girls, update policies and programs to promote the development of women in leadership positions and continue the momentum as we strive to achieve gender equality.

The full participation and leadership of women in all aspects of society enriches the lives of us all, and supports a kinder, more progressive world. However, women remain underrepresented in public life, and decision-making. Some of the best responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have been led by women – not only as politically-elected leaders, but at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19. They include health care professionals, from cleaning staff to doctors, who continue to put their lives at risk every day to help people. They are scientists who have helped develop vaccines to protect residents and communities from the virus. They are the educators who have adapted and have continued to educate the future generation of leaders.

International Women’s Day was established in the early years of the 20th Century to promote equal rights. These efforts laid the foundation for women to continue the fight against gender-based discrimination, patriarchal values, and systemic gender oppression that has held women back from being equal participants in our society.

As we celebrate the creativity, solidarity, and resilience of the women and girls all around us, it’s important we remain committed to a world where women have a meaningful seat at the decision-making table.