On this International Women’s Day (IWD) 2020, the country’s largest union, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) acknowledge the United Nations global theme I am Generation Equality Realizing Womans Rights and recognise the history of this day stems from International Workers Womans Day.

With women comprising 89 per cent of Australia’s total nursing and midwifery workforce, the ANMF says IWD is an important day for the whole community to reflect and escalate efforts in progressing women’s rights.

A report released this week by independent think tank ‘Per Capita’ shows Australia is one of the few developed nations that does not actively set targets for gender equality and as a result has fallen from a rank of 15th to 44th on the World Economic Forums’s Global Gender Gap Index.

The ANMF calls on the Morrison Government as a matter of urgency to work on eliminating the many barriers that exist for woman in achieving equality.

“We need national plans and targets to end gender based violence, achieve economic justice, eradicate the gender pay gap, reach equal parental leave for men and end the discrimination of First Nation’s women who are expected to work free under the Community Development Program,” ANMF Assistant Federal Secretary, Lori-Anne Sharp, said today.

“Despite some small in roads, women continue to carry the weight of unpaid care and domestic labour. Representing more than half the population, woman should expect the same opportunities and advancement that are offered to men.

“The UN global campaign theme for IWD 2020 I am Generation Equality Realizing Womans Rights is a pertinent message as we strive for equality for all working women,” Ms Sharp said.

ANMF media release authorised by Lori-Anne Sharp, ANMF Assistant Federal Secretary. 1/365 Queen St, Melbourne.  

The ANMF, with over 280,000 members, is the industrial and professional voice for nurses, midwives and assistants in nursing in Australia.

ANMF media inquiries: Richard Lenarduzzi 0411 254 390