Regional Victorians have today celebrated International Women’s Day, recognising the economic, political and social achievements of women past and present, and looking to the future to see where progress can still be made.
Senator McKenzie attended International Women’s Day events in Benalla, Bendigo and Shepparton and today commented on the camaraderie and joint purpose she has seen right across regional Victoria.
“The empowerment of rural women is especially important to be celebrating in this, the Year of the Farmer. Women are the backbone of our regional Victorian communities and International Women’s Day is a great opportunity for them to come together,” said Senator McKenzie.
“We remember that whilst International Women’s Day is a time for women to celebrate the progress they have made we must be aware of those areas of women’s lives where more can still be done – areas like women’s superannuation and higher levels of violence against women in regional areas,” said Senator McKenzie.
“This year’s United Nations theme is Empower Rural Women – End Hunger and Poverty. Rural women in Australia face challenges that differ from women who live in the city”.
“And this is also a time when we recognise that millions of women around the world are not fortunate enough to enjoy the economic, social and political freedoms of women in Australia.
“Globally, rural women and girls make up one in four people. They make up a large percentage of people working in agriculture, so are critical to helping find solutions to poverty and hunger,” Senator McKenzie said.