Plan International Canada calls on Canadians to #ChangetheStory to unite for gender equality
OTTAWA, March 8, 2017 /CNW/ - Plan International Canada is marking International Women's Day by encouraging Canadians to change the story to unite for gender equality.
The organization is challenging all Canadians to acknowledge the deep-seated gender norms that influence our lives – from our roles at home to the workplace – and to dive deeper into how gender stereotypes perpetuate a harmful cycle of inequality.
"None of us will have the opportunity to thrive if we don't change the story about how gender norms influence all of our lives," said Plan International Canada President and CEO Caroline Riseboro. "We must all come together to invest in gender equality and end harmful gendered expectations so that we can build a better world for all of humanity."
Plan International drives gender parity by ensuring girls have access to education and vocational training, envisioning a world in which all children, realize their full potential in societies that respect people's rights and dignity.
Creating equal opportunities for girls starts by acknowledging the barriers to female empowerment. Millions of girls around the world are still denied their right to education, healthcare and safety. These inequities contribute to high infant and childhood mortality rates, low education achievement and increased risk of physical and sexual abuse.
Today at an International Women's Day event in Ottawa, Global Ambassador Sophie Grégoire Trudeau joined a group of youth to meaningfully discuss what gender equality means to them and how gender stereotypes hold everyone back.
"Achieving full gender equality will take the efforts of everyone," said Plan International Canada Global Ambassador Madame Grégoire Trudeau. "We have achieved so much, but there is a still a long road ahead of us and we all need to actively participate in challenging the status quo."
Fifty youth from Plan International Canada Champions of Change Clubs in the Ottawa region gathered today at the University of Ottawa and engaged in a frank conversation about gender inequalities and offered suggestions about how to spur change in their own communities.
Plan International Canada is calling on all Canadians to join the conversation online and share how they will #ChangetheStory to unite for gender equality.
Additional photo and video resources are available for download.
Join our International Women's Day conversations online:
- Twitter: @plancanada, @biaagcanada
- Instagram: @plancanada, @biaagcan
- Facebook: @PlanCanada, @Because I am a Girl Canada
- #ChangetheStory
- #IWD2017
- #SharewithSophie
ABOUT PLAN INTERNATIONAL CANADA AND THE BECAUSE I AM A GIRL INITIATIVE
Founded in 1937, Plan International is one of the world's oldest and largest international development agencies, working in partnership with millions of people around the world to end global poverty. Not for profit, independent and inclusive of all faiths and cultures, Plan International strives for a just world that advances children's rights and equality for girls. Because I am a Girl is Plan International's global movement to transform power relations so that girls everywhere can learn, lead, decide and thrive.
Visit plancanada.ca and becauseiamagirl.ca for more information.
SOURCE Plan International Canada
For further information: MEDIA CONTACTS: Kaili Colford, Senior Manager, Media and Public Relations Manager, Plan International Canada, T: 416 920-1654 ext. 350 | C: 647-459-7557 | [email protected]; Allison Dewhirst, Senior Account Director, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, T: 416-413-4751 | C: 416-898-8113 | [email protected]
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