WASHINGTON – DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement in honor of International Women’s Day:

“International Women’s Day is a call for awareness and advocacy. Women and girls all over the world face overwhelming obstacles just to achieve some parity with their male peers. Over 66 million women in the world don’t have access to an education, and at least 400 million people lack basic health care. In light of these startling statistics, Democrats have led the fight for increasing educational opportunity and affordability and securing more preventative care and services for women in our country. In contrast, Republicans have vowed to abolish the Department of Education, support policies that threaten funding for higher education and would defund Planned Parenthood, which provides essential services for low-income women. We cannot advance the cause of international human rights if Republican leaders like Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio continually insist on turning back the clock in our own country.”
 
“Actions to bridge educational and health disparities in the U.S. and abroad hit particularly close to home for the DNC. Many of our women staff are first-generation Americans whose immigrant families fought hard to build their lives in the U.S, seeking our country's values of inclusion and opportunity. I am proud to represent a party that fights for these families and those like them every day. We must combat the fear-mongering and dangerous rhetoric on health and education from the Republican Party to advance and accelerate global gender parity.”