|
Ontario women celebrate on International Women's Day, but Premier Dalton McGuinty won't be joining the party.
For immediate release: March 7, 2007 This week, women celebrate International Women’s Day and take a stand for women’s equality, but it looks like Premier Dalton McGuinty won’t be joining the Campaign party. The Step it Up! Campaign was formed last June by a coalition of over 36 provincial, regional and local groups representing provincial women’s advocacy networks, rape crisis centres, shelters and second stage housing programs, women’s centres, labour and community groups. It advances 10 Steps to End Violence Against Women and wants political parties running in the October provincial election to develop platforms that include concrete measures to achieve them. “Women’s advocates from across the province have worked tirelessly to put together a list of “10 Steps” that, if addressed, could really start to tackle the issue of violence against women in Ontario,” said Leighann Burns, Ottawa Step it Up! Campaign member. “I can’t tell you how disappointed we are that the Premier, after repeated requests, has chosen not to meet with us.” During International Women’s Day activities across the province, Step it Up! is encouraging communities to contact the Premier and local MPPs from all political Parties to speak up for ending violence against women in Ontario, and to endorse the Campaign. “We are calling this action “Dialing for Dalton” said Toronto Step It Up! campaign member, Margaret Alexander. “We are asking concerned community members to contact the Premier and their local MPPs to express their concerns and ask them to endorse the 10 Steps to End Violence Against Women.” “We know people are concerned with woman abuse in this province. People are shocked every time they open the paper and hear about the death of another woman murdered by her intimate partner, or found dead by the roadside. We have given the Province’s Domestic Violence Action Plan a try – it’s now time to give the Women’s Step it Up! Action Plan a try.” The group wants the government to understand and act on violence against women as an equality rights issue and to take the steps women want to go beyond managing the impacts, to ending violence against women. The Step it Up! Campaign is endorsed by almost 100 groups from organizations across the province, with more joining as the Campaign unfolds. Step it Up for IWD! flyers are attached and will be distributed throughout the province. For more information about the Step it Up! Campaign and a list of our endorsers, visit our website at: www.stepitupontario.ca Media contacts: Leighann Burns, Ottawa 613-233-5990 Margaret Alexander, Toronto 416-968-3422 |
