On this day of 8 March, SAVE EUROPE, as usual, wishes to acknowledge all women of the planet. This day is dedicated to them and is an opportunity to alert people and their leaders to the fight for women’s rights and the reduction of inequalities with regard to men. For beyond the systemic obstacles that persist in hindering the principle of equality between men and women in society, the Covid¬19 pandemic has also highlighted new difficulties where women around the world are now more vulnerable than ever.
Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic imposed its own health rules, with repeated periods of confinement and curfew. However, we now know that these successive confinements aggravate the plight of the victims of domestic and intra-family violence. An addition to the sometimes deadly physical violence, is the increasingly dramatic psychological impact of these multiple lockdowns (withdrawal into oneself with the risk of subsequent isolation, fear of looking at others, and even depression). According to the United Nations, one in three women in the world endures physical or sexual violence at some point in her life.
At the same time, however, the crisis has highlighted both the paramount importance of women’s contribution and the disproportionate burden they bear: Although they represent the majority of frontline workers in the face of the pandemic, as health workers, caregivers and supporters of their families and communities, the specific situation of women is far from being adequately addressed as it should be.
In this context, there is an urgent need to integrate women’s perspectives, in all their diversity, in the formulation of policies, as well as in the implementation, at all stages, of the response and recovery plans that are put in place to deal with the pandemic.
Feminist organisations continue to make history, together and strong in the face of the weight of prejudice, such as the struggle in Argentina for more than 20 years, which has just succeeded, after a historic vote, on a law to legalise abortion that now takes on board the requirement of Argentinian activists: “safe, legal and henceforth free abortion is the law”.
SAVE EUROPE will continue to provide unwavering support to women in order to eradicate all forms of discrimination against women and to ensure that the rights of women and men are finally equal.
Let us all work for a world where respect and recognition for women are part of the collective conscience.
SAVE EUROPE recommends also the following links:
- Commission opens public consultation on tackling violence against women and domestic violence
- Ending gender-based violence
- #EUwomen4future
- UN Women
- The Council of French-speaking Women in Belgium
SAVE EUROPE dedicates this song by the talented French slammer Grand Corps Malade to all women: click here[:]