Help amplify the voices of women advocating for change in Canada | View in browser.

Pictured left to right, Hilda Anderson-Pyrz, Lise Martin & Morningstar Mercredi

Dear John,

March 8th, International Women’s Day, is both a day of protest and celebration. It’s a time to reflect on feminist achievements over the past year as well as a time to take action to end the violence and discrimination that women, transgender, and non-binary people continue to experience across Canada and around the world because of who they are.

This week and throughout March, here are three ways you can support feminist movements, particularly those led by Indigenous, Black, and other marginalized women, transgender, and non-binary people:

1. AMPLIFY the voices of women who are advocating for change on three pressing human rights issues in Canada by sharing their stories:

• Hilda Anderson-Pyrz, the MMIWG Liaison Unit Manager at Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, tells us about the impacts of the National Inquiry's Final Report, and how governments must act on the Calls for Justice to end violence against Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people.

• Lise Martin of Women’s Shelters Canada explains how a National Action Plan on gender-based violence would ensure much-needed supports are available to violence survivors in every part of Canada.

• Morningstar Mercredi, a Dene-Métis-Athabasca Chipewyan storyteller, author, actor, and activist, tells her story of being sterilized without her consent at the age of 14.

You can also follow and share their stories on Facebook and Twitter this week.

2. PHONE Minister of Women and Gender Equality Maryam Monsef to urge her to ensure that:

The National Action Plans to end gender-based violence (including the Indigenous-specific National Action Plan) are broad-reaching and include significant long-term implementation funding; and
Canada fully and swiftly implements the UN’s recommendations on ending sterilization without consent.

Please click here to phone Minister Monsef.

(When you click through you'll see more information and instructions!)

3. JOIN International Women’s Day events in your community:

Marches, film festivals, public events and other activities are held on March 8th and throughout March. There is no national list of events, so you can simply Google “International Women’s Day” and the name of your community to find local events near you.

However you mark International Women's Day, thank you for all you do to support feminist movements in your community, in Canada and across the world!

In solidarity,

Jackie Hansen
Gender Rights Campaigner
Amnesty International Canada