Hundreds of New Brunswickers joined Premier Bernard Lord and Transportation Minister Margaret-Ann Blaney, the minister responsible for the Status of Women, at the Women's World March 2000 Rally, which took place today in Fredericton. The objective of the rally is to eliminate poverty among and violence against women. More than 50 New Brunswick organizations participated in the event. In addition, marches, rallies and other events will be taking place over the next week in the United States, Jamaica, Japan, the Ivory Coast, Martinique, the Congo, Mexico, Australia, and Bolivia, among others. Hundreds of New Brunswickers gathered outside the Legislative Building for the rally.
Women deserve to be able to live their lives free from violence, oppression and poverty.
Unfortunately, this is not the case for all too many women in our society. This must and will change, and the Women's World March 2000 Rally is an important step toward that goal. Today's rally clearly brings their issues to the forefront, and we will continue to work together to find new ways to reduce the incidence of violence and help New Brunswick women to escape poverty.