Social Justice Minister Carl Sargeant has celebrated International Women’s Day by joining a group of women on the Women Making a Difference Engendering Change Programme at Splott Communities First Centre in Cardiff.
International Women’s Day (March 8th) celebrates feminism and political activity for all women in the world, acknowledging their struggles and celebrating women and diversity. The Welsh Assembly Government is supporting the day with £30,000 of funding to help twelve local organisations across Wales, including Women Making a Difference, to celebrate the occasion. The theme in Wales for 2010 will be “Promoting Women into Public and Political Life”.
The activities will include speeches from inspirational women from Wales and abroad, conferences, festivities, exhibitions and workshops which will reflect the diverse multicultural and multigenerational experience of women living in Wales today.
Women Making a Difference run courses that are designed to give women the confidence and skills to be able to take an active part at every level in their communities and in public life. The organisation’s five day Engendering Change programme is the first phase of a wider scheme to encourage women, particularly those who are under represented in decision making because of race, disability, age or social status, to make their voices heard.
The Minister said:
“Around the world, International Women’s Day marks a celebration of the economic, social, cultural and political achievements of women and recognises and the challenges and discrimination still faced by women.
As a man, it may seem odd that I have joined a group of women to celebrate International Women’s Day. However, I am honoured to have been invited to share my experiences of politics and public life with the group and I hope that my experience and knowledge will help them to get involved, meet those challenges, and address the discrimination they face.”
