Quebec Women Centres Day

Since 2003, the National Day of Quebec Women's Centres is marked throughout the province. Every year, on the first Tuesday of October, L’R‘s 101 member centres invite you to participate in activities to get to know the centres better and also to become familiar with their causes.

For 2007, L'R and its member centres have made the fight against poverty and social exclusion its priority.

In order to draw attention to this issue, L’R published a collection of women’s experiences that attest to the difficulties of living this way.

In Women's Poverty: a private hell, a public affair, individual women tell how poverty is lived daily and demand an end to poverty. Here is a brief look at what they revealed.

The women's accounts illustrate the daily miseries of poverty and suggest collective solutions to end it. The women say that they live in a constant state of stress and insecurity because neither the present nor future offers any guarantees. They are exhausted because poverty drains their energy. Facing prejudices, rejection and humiliation takes a toll on one's self esteem.

Poverty also means going without, not having choices, living in isolation and forces one to scrounge and beg. In order to have greater financial security, women suggest that the minimum wage and various benefits be increased to meet acceptable thresholds.

Women also want decent work conditions and hope for an increase in public services and social programs. They also acknowledge the support from community organisations that strive towards the creation of a vast network of support and solidarity in fighting poverty.

Let’s join our voices with theirs to take up the demands for decent income, public services for all, and universal social programs!

Avante women’s center is dedicated to the feminine condition. Here, all women will find what they are looking for: support, a warm welcome, workshops, someone to listen, mutual aid, references, citizen actions, and defense of rights. All of these services are offered at Avante Women’s Center. For more information, you are invited to communicate with Avante Women’s Center at (450) 248-0530 or by email at avantegayl@bellnet.ca

Avante Women’s Center is a member of the province-wide organization of Quebec Women’s Centers, a non profit organization grouping 104 women’s centers in 17 regions of Quebec. To find a center near you visit www.rcentres.qc.ca

International Women's Day

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

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