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Minister Ambrose Joins Students in a 'Walk in Her Shoes' Campaign to Launch International Women's Week

March 7, 2011

OTTAWA, ON - Today the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, launched International Women's Week by joining students from Ottawa's Elmwood School to participate in CARE Canada's 'Walk in Her Shoes' campaign.

The 'Walk in Her Shoes' campaign recognizes that women and girls throughout the world may walk as many as 8,000 steps a day to carry out their household chores; the campaign challenges  Canadians to walk an equivalent number of steps prior to and on International Women's Day (March 8, 2011).

The 'Walk in Her Shoes Campaign' aims to raise awareness of the daily challenges facing women and girls in some of the poorest countries in the world.

"It's a great way to launch International Women's Week and a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness of CARE Canada's unique 'Walk in Her Shoes' campaign," said Minister Ambrose. "I encourage Canadians across the country to participate in one of International Women's Week's many great activities, and to show support for overcoming the challenges and celebrating the progress being made by women and girls around the world."

The Government of Canada commends the efforts of organizations that seek to better the lives of women and girls in Canada and around the world. International Women's Day and International Women's Week 2011 provide an opportunity for Canadians to celebrate progress toward equality for women, to reflect on current challenges and to consider future efforts to achieve women's full participation in all aspects of Canadian life.

International Women's Day was marked for the first time in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution calling on member states to proclaim a day for women's rights and international peace.

For further information on International Women's Day and International Women's Week, visit the Status of Women Canada web site at http://www.iwd.gc.ca.

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For more information, please contact:

Rebecca Thompson
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women
819-997-5421

Nanci-Jean Waugh
Director General, Communications and Strategic Planning
Status of Women Canada
613 995-7839

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Date Modified:
2011-03-08