International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day, March 8, 2019
The Theme: Respect, Demonstrate for It!
The International Women’s Day is the story of ordinary women who made history. It is rooted in the centuries-long struggle of women to participate in society on an equal footing with men. It appeared in the context of social movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and Europe.
This day is celebrated in many countries around the world. It took a new global dimension in developed countries as well as in developing countries. The burgeoning feminist movement helps make the celebration of this day a rallying point for the coordinated efforts being deployed to demand the realization of women’s rights and their participation in political and economic processes.
This year the theme is: Respect, Demonstrate for It!
Why this theme?
The word Respect is very rich and has the advantage to be broken down into different meanings, depending on the issues to be selected by your group.
After years of austerity that have greatly affected women, 2018 was a decisive year for the feminist movement all over the world, as in Quebec, particularly because of the scale and impact of the movement.
Faced with the rise of the populist right, conservatism, racial and religious intolerance and inequality, we are uniting to demand RESPECT.
- Because we are more likely to suffer violence, live in poverty, work for minimum wages, be single parents, earn lower wages despite equivalent qualifications;
- Because we are more likely to take on household chores, take care of a child or a sick relative;
- Because we are fewer in places of power, whether political, economic or cultural, and fewer in the history books;
- Because most of the above-stated truths affect even in more blatant ways some of us who are indigenous, in jail, disabled, transgender, poor, etc.
As long as our world is not egalitarian and openly feminist, we will continue to demand respect and to protest, without leaving out any woman.
The Gathering on the 8th of March calls on you to defend women’s rights!
For the International Day of Women’s Rights, make your voice heard for equality and justice for all women! (See Gathering 8 March)
Reflection and tribute:
With a rose and a candle in our grateful hearts, let us honor those missing women, known and unknown, that major criminals of the 21st century and their accomplices shot, tortured and murdered, often with impunity. Let us raise our human voices and give expression to freedom, justice and solidarity. Let us remember the names of some of the courageous women who dared to say and to write the word No at the risk of their lives… No to injustice, violence, lies, falsehood, totalitarian power, ultra-fundamentalism and corruption; No to trafficking in women and children; No the scourge of rape in other societies. Let us remember the names of some of these admirable women, so like human flowers.