Media Advisory - International Women's Day - Canadian trade unionists join global march calling for an end to violence against women and girls

NEW YORK, March 7, 2013 /CNW/ - Canadian women will be among the trade union members represented by four international Global Union Federations --- the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Education International (EI), Public Services International (PSI) and UNI Global Union - at a march in New York this Friday to call for an end to violence against women and girls. The 42 Canadians among the 85-member trade union delegation are in New York this week for the United Nations 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), taking place March 4-15, 2013.

The "For a Life Free from Violence Against Women & Girls" march, sponsored by over 115 organizations is urging governments - including the Canadian government -- to step up to their responsibilities with respect to ending violence against women and girls in their respective countries. The march also coincides with this year's CSW theme "The elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls".

Under the banner "No more words, time for action", trade union delegates are advocating: for measures to address violence in the workplace; for women's economic independence through decent work; for access to public services to help victims of violence, and for education measures as a means to prevent and eliminate violence. Trade unions are also seeking to be identified as legitimate stakeholders in the prevention of violence of women and girls.

March details:

When:	10 a.m. to noon. Friday, March 8, 2013
Where:	Assemble on 42nd St. and 1^st Avenue; March at 10:30 a.m.to 47^th and 3^rd Avenue; End march at 47th and 1^st Avenue (Ave Dag Hammarskjold Plaza)
Who:	Human rights defenders from all around the world will be speaking

The trade union delegation represents over 70 million women workers from 27 countries around the world. Follow it on twitter @unioncsw or read its blog: http://unioncsw.world-psi.org/

SOURCE: Canadian Teachers' Federation

Media contacts: Francine Filion [email protected] 613-899-4247