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Canada Celebrates International Women's Day

March 8, 2014 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and Minister for La Francophonie, today issued the following statement:
"International Women's Day is a day to celebrate the progress that has been made in advancing the rights of women. It is also a day to reflect on the challenges and barriers that many women still face, including in the developing world.
"Canada has been a leader on the world stage in promoting the full participation of women and girls in all aspects of society. In 2011, Canada spearheaded the creation of the International Day of the Girl Child. 
"Canada has made ending the practice of child, early and forced marriage a foreign policy priority and continues to play a leading role in putting this issue on the international agenda at the United Nations within the Human Rights Council, the General Assembly and the Commission on the Status of Women. 
"Canada's theme for International Women's Week 2014 is Strong Women. Strong Canada. During this week, Canadians are encouraged to celebrate and reflect on the contributions of women entrepreneurs in Canada and around the world. The full participation of women is key for a country to achieve its economic potential."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently announced that Canada will host a high-level summit on maternal, newborn and child health from May 28 to 30, 2014, in Toronto, Ontario.

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