While strides have been made, advocates say more awareness is needed to advance women’s rights, at home and abroad.
While strides have been made, advocates say more awareness is needed to advance women’s rights, at home and abroad.
With International Women’s Day celebrated on Tuesday, the Chatham-Kent Public Library and Chatham-Kent Sexual Assault Crisis Center partnered on a display, which can be viewed at the Chatham branch.
The aim is to educate the public about global efforts in the movement for social, political and economic equality.
“Here we are in 2022, and as far as gender equality, we’re still working towards it,” said Michelle Schryer, executive director for the crisis centre.
“We have certainly moved forward towards gender equality, but we also to look at women’s struggles around the world. Because there are parts of the world where being a woman is so unsafe.”
Schryer said the ongoing Russian occupation of Ukraine is sending many women and their families fleeing, often into precarious situations with no other options.
Whenever there is an unstable climate, it makes crimes such as human trafficking even more prevalent, she said.
“How are they protected from traffickers? Even in Canada,” Schryer said. “Living in Canada doesn’t guarantee safety. But certainly compared to other countries, we are further ahead.”
Schryer said the library display highlights “some pretty magnificent women” over the course of history who have broken down barriers.
“Some who most people have never heard about,” she said. “Because women have been absent from history.”
One prominent local woman is recognized, Gwen Robinson, for her efforts in promoting Black history within the community.
“I think it’s really fitting that Gwen is one of the women that we are highlighting,” Schryer said.
Women who’ve contributed in such areas as the military are also honoured, with Schryer saying their roles are often forgotten, noting aviation as an example.
“Nobody thinks about young women having contributed in wartime in that way,” she said. “In my view, there were other women who wanted to contribute more and who were not accepted.”
The display will be at the library until noon on Friday.