Local initiatives carried out by our partners on the occasion of International Women’s Day
This day of mobilisation throughout the world is an opportunity to reflect on the situation of women, the progress made but also the work that remains to be done to achieve equality between women and men. It is important to highlight the actions carried out by women throughout the world to remind us that nothing can be taken for granted in terms of equal rights. Thus, on the occasion of 8 March 2023, members of the global network of the International Observatory on Violence against Women have committed themselves to carrying out activities to disseminate, reflect on and promote rights. Let's take a look at their initiatives.
DJÉNINE, PALESTINE:
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Jenin opened a women’s shopping bazaar on 16th and 18th March 2023. The aim of the bazaar was to support women entrepreneurs economically, and to promote their projects. Also, it gave them an opportunity to meet and have a good time despite the difficult circumstances in which they live at this moment.
The bazaar included various products, such as food, embroidery, gifts, cosmetics, accessories, candles, books and educational aids. The population on Jenin participated in large numbers, including the mayor who came to greet the mobilization of our partners.
NGAZIDJA, THE COMOROS :
The governorate of Ngazidja requested the Observatory on Violence against Women and Girls to organise a 100% feminine, solidarity-based and intergenerational run. Students, associations, and women’s sports clubs mobilised on the occasion of International Women’s Rights Day. Among other activities, a round table on the book Tsishindi Ngoshinda was also organised. Published in 2017, this book was written through a platform gathering the voices of 12 Comorian women politicians engaged in the socio-political life of the country. The aim was to encourage other women to join the political scene.
QUILMES, ARGENTINA:
The municipality of Quilmes, under the slogan “Mujeres Trabajando Transforman la Historia” (Working Women Transform History), carried out several activities throughout the month of March. These included women’s rounds in the city’s neighbourhoods; a photographic exhibition “Feminisms and Diversities: Stories of Organisation and Struggle”; and visits to Quilmes museums as part of the programme “Los museos de Quilmes hablan de Nosotras” (The museums of Quilmes speak about us).
Our partners also mobilised around a territorial operation for women and diversity: procedures, advice and interviews with different municipal, provincial and national bodies. In this context, Mayor Mayra Mendoza signed the decree of adherence to the provincial law on leave for women in situations of gender-based violence for all municipal employees.
WOMEN FOR DEMOCRACY :
In the framework of the III World Forum on Human Rights held in Argentina, feminist leaders from all over the world participated in the meeting “Women for Democracy” which took place in the city of Quilmes with its mayor Mayra Mendoza.
In addition, in the presence of Monica Benicio, current Rio de Janeiro city councillor and Marielle Franco’s partner, Quilmes unveiled a plaque in her honour and memory. Marielle Franco was a city councillor and human rights activist who was murdered in 2018 for confronting power in Brazil.
IZTAPALAPA, MEXICO:
The municipality of Iztapalapa organised several events throughout the month of March.
1st NATIONAL MEETING OF WOMEN TRADE UNIONISTS
The mayor of Iztapalapa participated in the first national meeting of women trade unionists, together with representatives of the country’s main trade unions, the federal labour secretary and the president of the National Women’s Institute.
WOMEN’S COUNCIL FOR RIGHTS, FREEDOM AND PEACE
A Feminist City Council in Iztapalapa was held, in which the women of the city met to talk about the importance of feminism and the actions that the city council has implemented in favour of women, with their participation in areas such as sport, culture, university and activism.
THE TRADITIONAL ANNUAL FEMINIST MARCH
SANTIAGO, CHILE:
For the second consecutive year, Santiago Feminista is taking place, an initiative of the municipality led by Mayor Irací Hassler Jacob as part of the 8M. It includes various activities organized by the different municipal areas such as workshops, fairs, conferences, tourist routes, open parks, and a commemorative event that brought together more than 1300 women at the municipal theatre. As part of these milestones, an important step was the inauguration of Casa Igualdad, the first health care space in Santiago.
THE MUNICIPAL WOMEN’S INSTITUTE OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF JUAREZ, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO:
This year, the Municipal Institute of Women of the Municipality of Juarez, within the framework of 8M, promoted the campaign “Women in the Free Struggle“, with which an appeal is made to historical memory to recognise each of the mobilisations of women in the struggle for their rights, autonomy and the eradication of gender based violence.
The activities took place from 6 to 16 March under the slogan #LuchemosLibres (Let’sFightFree), where different themes were addressed to encourage reflection and promote the prevention of gender-based violence: exhibition of artistic works “Border Women’s Resistance“, as well as the auto-ethnographic project with indigenous women “Shaping my identity”; roundtables on the integration of a feminist perspective in the creation of public policies and social communication of agencies.
QUITO, ECUADOR:
As part of Quito’s actions related to the 8M, the Metropolitan Council of Quito approved resolution 032-2023, which makes it mandatory to develop awareness and anti-violence campaigns in transport stations. To this end, the municipal transport companies, Unidad Patronato San José and the Quito Metro have implemented the “Zero Harassment” pilot programme, which provides an attention protocol for cases, through QR codes and hotlines.
In turn, the water company Agua Potable is going to include the Violence meter provided by the Observatory of Seine-Saint-Denis at the meeting held in Iztapalapa in the water service bill from May 2023.
SEINE SAINT-DENIS, FRANCE
On 9 March 2023, the 21st departmental meeting of the Observatory on Violence against Women was held at the Bobigny Labour Exchange. The theme was: “Preventing and identifying sexual violence”. This was an opportunity for the departmental organisation to present its report for the year 2022 as well as a study on sexual violence against children. Based on a sample of one hundred cases selected by the department’s child welfare inspectors, the study paints a picture of this violence.
- To find out more about the 21st Meeting of the Observatory of Violence against Women in Seine Saint-Denis, click here.
This meeting was also an opportunity to present the work and actions carried out by Bintou Bouaré, President of WILDAF Mali (Women Law and Development in Africa) based in Bamako. She presented the progress and challenges related to the fight against violence against women in Mali.
- To find out more about Bintou Bouaré’s visit, click here.
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