New York, N.Y. – March 19, 2024 – UFCW activists convened in New York the week of March 11 for the United Nation’s 68^th Annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68). UFCW 1400 President Lucia Flack Figueiredo, UFCW 832 Secretary-Treasurer Marie Buchan, and Debora De Angelis, chair of the UFCW Women & Gender Equity Committee and Ontario Regional Director joined a 100+ strong labour delegation of union women from across the world.

CSW68 is the UN’s largest annual gathering on gender equality and women’s empowerment; this year, it took place in New York from March 11 to 22 under the priority theme, “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective.”

UFCW Canada’s message to the delegates was clear: in order to achieve gender equality, we need to close the gender wage gap, have access to universal affordable childcare, end gender-based violence, have more women in leadership positions. Women need access to unions and collective bargaining; it is crucial to ensure workers’ voices are included in discussions about gender equality and women’s empowerment.

UFCW Canada has always had strong women fighting for gender equality. This is difficult work that our union is committed to doing together to ensure that the next generation’s fight for gender equity is not so hard. We must continue to work together to ensure fair labour practices and legislation that uplift all women and gender-diverse people globally.

Follow along the 68^th Annual Commission on the Status of Women on social media with the hashtag: #UNCSW68.