Jersey Celebrates International Women's Day

The day is dedicated to honouring women's achievements, addressing discrimination, and advocating for gender equality.

Events across Jersey are encouraging islanders to celebrate International Women's Day (8 March).

Domestic abuse charity FREEDA is one of the charities and organisations marking the day. CEO Lisa Leventhal says it is important it is recognised:

"International Women's Day serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges women face globally. It is a day to amplify the voices of survivors, highlight the need for support systems, and foster a collective commitment to ending violence against women.

By coming together on this day, we strengthen our resolve to create a world where we can live with dignity, safety, and equality."

The charity hosted a breakfast at the Royal Yacht with a talk from survivor and founder of Stand Up To Domestic Abuse (SUTDA).

Rachel Williams shared her experiences, and was joined by Kate Wright, Chair of the 2023 VAWG Government Taskforce and Dr Deryn Evans who discussed the importance of forensic evidence in domestic abuse cases.

Some of Jersey's female politicians are also taking part in events, including being at a pop-up stand at the Grande Marché in St Helier.

Deputies Raluca Kovacs, Inna Gardner and Louise Doublet are encouraging islanders to talk about their personal experiences with gender, and are inviting people in Jersey to offer suggestions for the States Assembly to pursue to address gender equality.

Deputy Kovacs would like to see as many islanders as possible represented in discussions.

“As a States Member, I think it is crucial that we are actively engaging in these discussions and representing the diverse voices of our community, as we are responsible for ensuring our policies and actions align with Islander’s needs.

I encourage everyone, men and women, to visit us at the Grande Marché stand to share their thoughts and insights, as every perspective is valued and welcomed."

They will be at the store 12pm-3pm.

Jersey is also being represented at an online webinar, bringing together young women from across the British Islands and Mediterranean (BIM) Region.

Students from Jersey College for Girls and Deputy Raluca Kovacs will attend as representatives of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians.

They will discuss the challenges faced by women today and offer opinions on what can be done to support them.