NL marks International Women’s Day, recognizing achievements of women

The provincial government is marking International Women’s Day by recognizing the achievements and leadership of women across Newfoundland and Labrador.

In a statement ahead of the annual observance on Sunday, Women and Gender Equality Minister Lela Evans said the day highlights the many contributions women make in workplaces, communities, families and public life.

Evans said women across the province continue to drive progress, strengthen the economy and inspire change.

This year’s theme, “Give to Gain,” calls on people to promote equity and opportunity, recognizing that when women and girls succeed, communities and economies grow stronger.

Evans also noted a significant milestone for the province in the past year — the 100th anniversary of women in Newfoundland and Labrador securing the right to vote and hold public office. She said the achievement was the result of decades of organizing and advocacy by suffragists who pushed for political equality.

“On this day, we celebrate the achievements, strength and enduring resilience of the women who have shaped both our history and our province,” Evans said in remarks delivered in the legislature.

International Women’s Day has been observed globally for more than a century. The day traces its origins to labour and women’s rights movements in the early 1900s and was first widely recognized in 1911 in several European countries. The United Nations later began officially marking the day in 1975.

Today, March 8 is observed in many countries around the world as a time to celebrate women’s achievements while also highlighting the ongoing push for gender equality.