International Women’s Day
Anasina GRAY-BARBERIO (Northern Metropolitan) (09:43): Last Wednesday I had the privilege of hosting March Forward: Empowering Young Women at Brunswick Neighbourhood House as part of International Women’s Day, bringing together diverse, passionate group of women to share stories and celebrate leadership in our communities. I would like to extend my gratitude to our incredible speakers: Tigist Kebede, Hannah Heers, Anna Mailei, Nazanin and Chinakila Makwaza. The event was a huge success. Chinakila’s powerful poetry encouraged young woman to use their voices; Tigist shared invaluable insights on mental health; Nazanin spoke fearlessly about the collective responsibility to uplift all women, highlighting that violence against women is also a men’s issue; at just 16, Hannah proved that leadership has no age limit; and Anna shed light on the challenges faced by young Pacific Island women in leadership and the importance of reclaiming power and safety in their own spaces. Themes of migration, refuge, fellowship and protection from harm were at the heart of the night. The Greens remain committed to equity of opportunity for women and gender-diverse people, and I look forward to continuing to foster strong, supportive communities through events like March Forward: Empowering Young Women for International Women’s Day.