Recognizing International Women's Day, Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin today signed the #PledgeForParity, a step to help achieve gender parity, help women and girls achieve their ambitions, call for gender-balanced leadership, respect and value difference, and develop more inclusive and flexible cultures or root out workplace bias.
International Women's Day is a day to reflect on the achievements of women and the fight for gender equality. It is also a day to acknowledge the strides the world has made in advancing women's rights, freedoms, and protections. The United Nations has recognized and celebrated International Women's Day on March 8 since 1975. This year's theme is #PledgeForParity to bring greater awareness to the gender and equality gap that still exists.
"It's disappointing that we are still talking about the gender parity in 2016. There is no question that women are doing the same work as men, and should be recognized for it and paid equally. While we have come a long way in recent years, with a woman serving as Governor of our great state and a woman leading the race for the President, we can and must do more.
"As Attorney General, I pledge to ensure that all those employed by my Office enjoy gender equality in terms of their leadership and salary. Further, as an elected leader, I pledge to work to support efforts to improve gender equality in all aspects of public life," said Attorney General Kilmartin.
Women hold several top spots in the Office of Attorney General, including chiefs of both the Civil and Criminal Divisions. Last year, Assistant Attorney General and Chief of the Criminal Division Stacey P. Veroni was recognized at the International Women's Day event at the Rhode Island State House for her achievements in law enforcement. Further, women make up more than 50 percent of the total staff in the Office. Women have made significant achievements in the field of law as a whole, with women serving as chiefs of three state Courts – Family Court, District Court, and Superior Court.
Today also marks the 29th Arts Advocacy Day. While it is a coincidence that International Women's Day and the Advocacy Day fell on the same day this year, Attorney General Kilmartin recognized the role women have played in advancing the arts in Rhode Island and across the globe.
"I know firsthand the influence women have in our thriving arts community. It was my wife Kristine who was the impetus behind and founder of the Pawtucket Arts Festival," said Kilmartin. "With sheer will and determination, Kristine turned an idea into reality in what has become one of the most celebrated and popular cultural arts events in the region."
In 1999, the newly married couple was driving by Slater Memorial Park on a cold January day. Kristine turned to her husband, who was then a state representative, and asked, "why doesn't the City take more advantage of its green space" and wondered why Pawtucket couldn't do something like the Scituate Arts Festival in the vast 209-acre park.
It was that conversation that sparked what has become the Pawtucket Arts Festival, celebrating its 18th anniversary this coming September.
"I urge all Rhode Islanders to celebrate the social, cultural, political, and economic achievements of women by pledging, like I did, to end gender bias and by supporting women-owned and run businesses and cultural endeavors."
Visit http://www.internationalwomensday.com to take the pledge to become a champion of gender parity.