Estimated reading time: 3 minute(s)
Originally published 3.9.09
On Sunday, March 8, countries around the world observed International Women’s Day and a major gathering of powerful women leaders took place in Liberia on the eve of the celebration.
International Women’s Day was declared in 1910 by the German socialist leader Clara Zetkin and was officially recognized by the United Nations in 1975.
Canadian Governor General Michaelle Jean told the crowd in Liberia that “I’m telling you: give women the means to react and you will see less violence, you will see the end of sickness and illiteracy because women never forget that life is the most precious thing”, according to Agence France Presse.
Her Excellency also said,” Exclude women and you will fail”.
In Canada, according to AP, an Assembly of First Nations leaders acknowledged in a release the UN’s 2009 global theme to end violence against women and voiced support for the call by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women to urgently execute thorough investigations of the more than 500 cases of missing or slain aboriginal women.
