Summary: International Women's Day is next Tuesday the 8th of March 2005. Come along to the Auckland events listed below.

International Women's Day 2005 - Stand Up for Our Rights.

Few people today think that women are inferior to men or that they should be paid less, but women on average are paid 20 per cent less than men.

There are women in top positions such as the Prime Minister, the Governor General and the Attorney General – but for the majority of women gender inequality remains a daily reality.

Sole parents, invariably women, are among the worst off. We have a Labour government that has maintained the severe benefit cuts of 1991 and has policies aimed at harassing beneficiaries such as Jobs Jolt and a new scheme of “home visits”.

Meanwhile, Don Brash is doing his best to outdo the government and has launched his own attack on beneficiaries.

While money is being poured into the repressive “war on terror” social needs are being neglected. Thousands of women and children turn to women’s refuges every year because of domestic violence, yet these essential services struggle to survive as the government refuses to properly fund them.

Women need pay equity and real job opportunities. The benefit cuts need to be reversed and spending on social needs must be raised to provide affordable housing to all and quality childcare services.

The profit-driven system has denied workers, women and minorities the most basic rights. It’s time to stand up and fight for our rights.

COME ALONG TO THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY EVENTS

FORUM Monday 7 March 7.30pm @ Trades Hall 147 Great North Road Grey Lynn Susan St John speaking on women and child poverty. Unionist and Alliance president Jill Ovens will be speaking on the housing problem. PLUS Naomi Klein’s film on Argentina THE TAKE

RALLY Tuesday 8 March Aotea Square 5.30pm. MC Michelle A’Court, Speakers, Open Mike, Music – the Coolies.

Aotearoa IMC: http://indymedia.org.nz/

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