Friday, 7 March 2008
Equality efforts must use technology to go global
The challenge to achieve equality between women and men - whether in the boardroom, in parliaments or on the shopfloor - must harness technology to build global momentum and create lasting change, Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick said today on the eve of International Women’s Day.
“Globalisation and technology offer us new and exciting ways to communicate with one another and influence change,” Ms Broderick said.
“Social networking websites and virtual communities provide us with opportunities to discuss and debate women’s issues, and organise a movement for change both locally and globally.
“We must capitalise on these advances and use them effectively to push for a better future where women’s concerns are at centre stage– a future where we are all equal.
“In Australia we still lack pay equity, have on average only one third the retirement savings of men, still do not have paid maternity leave and violence against women remains commonplace.”
Commissioner Broderick urged all Australians to support the multi-year campaign to end violence against women launched last week by the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon.
“I give my support to this campaign and urge all Australians to sign the ‘Say No to Violence’ petition at www.saynotoviolence.org. The United Nations Foundation has committed to donate US$1 for each of the first 100,000 signatures to the campaign.
“Violence against women is a serious and pervasive human rights issue in Australia. It has a tremendous personal cost for affected women, as well as social and economic costs for our community as a whole, with as many as one-in-three Australian women affected by domestic and family violence,” Ms Broderick said.
“There are no excuses for violence against women. Everyone has a role to play in challenging this violence: individuals, communities, governments and business. I look forward to working with the new federal government to ensure that women in Australia can exercise their right to live a life free from violence.”
Commissioner Broderick will be marching in the International Women’s Day march in Sydney tomorrow, joining women all around the world in calling for true gender equality between women and men.
“We are a part of a global movement for gender equality – we can and must stand up and push for change.”
Media contact: Louise McDermott on (02) 9284 9851 or 0419 258 597
