By Maria Vesselko
Illustration by Magdalena Xochitl Burtnik Urueta
International Women’s Day comes this year with the mobilisation of all forces to tackle inequality, which is not possible to hide any more amid the pandemic and the growing economic crisis. The events of the last year will take an important place in the history of the struggle for rights and equality.
This is a time of an increasing role and authority of women’s associations, strengthening their positions in the international space, international unification and faith in the power of solidarity!
Solidarity demonstrates advantages over individualism and social disunity. The economic and political situation in countries around the world is characterised by the growth of deep contradictions and an increase in protest activity. The foundations of capitalism are crumbling, women are more and more boldly taking on their own fate.
Women’s protests in Chile are an inspiring example. In an interview to Foreign Policy Magazine Karina Nohales said: “We march in different parts of the country, not only to denounce violence, but also the disinterest from the state, highlighting the government’s 2021 budget, which includes only $1.7 million dedicated to preventing violence against women— an amount that is no higher than the year before despite a spike in domestic violence cases tied to ongoing pandemic lockdowns.”
Feminist groups were among the loudest shouting for change. During the months of mass protests, the phrase “The revolution will be feminist — or it won’t be a revolution,” was etched onto city walls, projected onto buildings, and chanted by thousands of women.
Another example of successful women’s protests is Argentina, where thousands of women, including members of feminist groups from the United States and Chile gathered to campaign for abortion on demand to be made legal.
Argentinian politicians have passed a bill to legalise abortion in a groundbreaking move for Latin America, a region that has long opposed the practice on religious grounds.
Giselle Carino, an Argentinian feminist activist said to the Guardian that “the real credit lay with Argentina’s indefatigable women “who never stopped occupying the streets and the social networks – not even against the backdrop of the pandemic – and kept up their struggle, without haste but without rest”.
Responding to protesters’ demands, politicians agreed to hold a referendum to rewrite the constitution.
In conditions of ever deepening contradictions, aggressive circles of nationalists, right-wing radicals and representatives of conservative parties are looking for a way out through organising their own protests and introducing laws that infringe on human rights.
All these actions reasonably cause a growing amount of protests! An increasing number of women are joining the struggle for their rights, for the rights of their children and communities. Women will celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, 2021 by strengthening the fight against femicide, violence, for improving their economic situation, for equality and bodily integrity.
The ability to speak out and share our rights openly should unite women around the world even more! We reach out to those who need help! During the coming week we will be showing photographs from women’s protests and rallies!
Stay tuned! In solidarity!