March 8 is International Women’s Day and York is celebrating with a series of events, including a photography exhibit, a film festival and a panel discussion over the next two days.
Coordinated by the Office of the Ombudsperson & Centre for Human Rights, this year’s celebration focuses on the theme CanAIDa and Beyond: Realities of HIV/AIDS – Racism, Sexism and Human Rights.
Above: CARE Canada exhibit photo by Andrew Stawicki of PhotoSensitive
Events kick off tomorrow and run through Thursday.
March 6
- Photography exhibit, AIDS: Picture Change, from CARE Canada, opens in Scott Library and remains on display until March 22.
- A film festival on HIV/AIDS begins with a screening of A Closer Walk and Tsepong, A Clinic Called Hope in Vari Hall A, 4:30-7pm.
March 7
- Screening of The Constant Gardener in Vari Hall A, 4:30-7pm.
March 8
- Silent vigil for people with HIV/AIDS in Vari Hall Rotunda, noon-2pm.
- Jazz trio, dance and refreshments in the Underground’s Contact Room from 2:30 to 5:30pm. (Doors open at 2pm.)
- A panel discussion about Women, Children, Gender Inequality, Inequitable Access to Health Care & HIV/AIDS begins at 3:15pm in the Underground's Contact Room. Panelists are: Wangari Tharao, a health promoter with Women’s Health in Women’s Hands, and African Caribbean Council on HIV/AIDS in Ontario; Wendy Babcock, a spokesperson for Sex Professionals of Canada, an advocacy group that promotes the rights of sex workers and the decriminalization of Canada’s prostitution laws; AIDS activist Dr. Philip Berger, is chief, Department of Family and Community Medicine, and medical director, Inner City Health Program at St. Michael’s Hospital.
This year, York's Office of the Ombudsperson & Centre for Human Rights is working with more than 20 student clubs, Faculties and campus organizations to create events that run through to March 21, International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Watch the Web site for a schedule of March events.