Women's Seminar 2019: Difference between revisions
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Positive action and partybuilding among women: http://internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article143 | Positive action and partybuilding among women: http://internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article143 | ||
== | == Reports == | ||
== Outline of document for IC == | |||
'''The new rise of the women’s movement''' | '''The new rise of the women’s movement''' | ||
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5.4. Intersection (articulation) with other social movements | 5.4. Intersection (articulation) with other social movements | ||
Responses to | == Responses to Questionnaire on movements - English only == | ||
Subverta Brazil, Britain, Philippines, Denmark, Pakistan, Brazil Comuna, Brazil MES, Greece, Germany, Turkey | |||
Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition? | '''Organization: SUBVERTA | ||
Country: Brazil''' | |||
'''Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition?''' | |||
No, in Brazil, we don’t have a national coalition and We have no agreement with other feminist organizations like the World March of Women to call for a feminist strike. | No, in Brazil, we don’t have a national coalition and We have no agreement with other feminist organizations like the World March of Women to call for a feminist strike. | ||
Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members? | '''Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members?''' | ||
The unions participate, but in a very minority way. This year saw a major effort, involving the unions and labor centrals, in which many unions approved a standstill on 8 March. But we still have a long way to go before the unions incorporate the feminist agenda as central to the working class. | The unions participate, but in a very minority way. This year saw a major effort, involving the unions and labor centrals, in which many unions approved a standstill on 8 March. But we still have a long way to go before the unions incorporate the feminist agenda as central to the working class. | ||
What were the demands of the mobilization? Was there a manifesto? | '''What were the demands of the mobilization? Was there a manifesto?''' | ||
The demands of March 8th of that year were Marielle Franco's justice, against the withdrawal of rights, against pension reform, legalization of abortion, for the lives of women. In several states they had a manifesto, but we could not produce a national manifesto. March 8th in Brazil is still very fragmented. | The demands of March 8th of that year were Marielle Franco's justice, against the withdrawal of rights, against pension reform, legalization of abortion, for the lives of women. In several states they had a manifesto, but we could not produce a national manifesto. March 8th in Brazil is still very fragmented. | ||
Was the mobilization stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it take place? (Was it representative? Bigger? How much?) | '''Was the mobilization stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it take place? (Was it representative? Bigger? How much?)''' | ||
The 8M this year, had an important role, because it was the first major act against the Bolsonaro government. | The 8M this year, had an important role, because it was the first major act against the Bolsonaro government. | ||
We had acts in 14 of the 26 states. They were important and big things, but we still have a very big challenge to get women on the streets. | We had acts in 14 of the 26 states. They were important and big things, but we still have a very big challenge to get women on the streets. | ||
Did it bring together rural and urban organizations? | '''Did it bring together rural and urban organizations?''' | ||
This union did not occur in all Brazilian states. | This union did not occur in all Brazilian states. | ||
To what extent are black women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition? | '''To what extent are black women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition?''' | ||
It was sought nationally to involve the black women's movement, such as the black women's forum, the articulation of black women and the unified black movement. One of his demands is the end of the genocide of black youth. In some states, black women opened the 8M Act. | It was sought nationally to involve the black women's movement, such as the black women's forum, the articulation of black women and the unified black movement. One of his demands is the end of the genocide of black youth. In some states, black women opened the 8M Act. | ||
More black women perform their own act every July: the march of black women to celebrate the Latin American and Caribbean day of the black woman. | More black women perform their own act every July: the march of black women to celebrate the Latin American and Caribbean day of the black woman. | ||
To what extent are indigenous women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the coalition leadership? | '''To what extent are indigenous women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the coalition leadership?''' | ||
The indigenous women's movement is still very invisible within the feminist movement, especially in the southeastern region of the country. The indigenous people have an important encounter that is the free land encampment that occurs every year. | The indigenous women's movement is still very invisible within the feminist movement, especially in the southeastern region of the country. The indigenous people have an important encounter that is the free land encampment that occurs every year. | ||
To what extent are trans women's organizations or organizations that definitely include trans women involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the coalition leadership? | '''To what extent are trans women's organizations or organizations that definitely include trans women involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the coalition leadership? | ||
To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they send only a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands? | To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they send only a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands? | ||
To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement? | To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement? | ||
The Palestinian solidarity movement is not much vindicated in the feminist movement. | '''The Palestinian solidarity movement is not much vindicated in the feminist movement. | ||
To what extent has there been a collective balance sheet of 8M 2019? | '''To what extent has there been a collective balance sheet of 8M 2019?''' | ||
It did not have a collective balance of 8M in many states of Brazil. the movement falls apart as soon as the act is finished. | It did not have a collective balance of 8M in many states of Brazil. the movement falls apart as soon as the act is finished. | ||
To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will the Feminist Strike have a central place in the call? | '''To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will the Feminist Strike have a central place in the call? | ||
The 8M of 2020 has not yet begun to be organized. | '''The 8M of 2020 has not yet begun to be organized. | ||
To what extent is your political organization involved in this work? | '''To what extent is your political organization involved in this work?''' | ||
We at Subverta, always help in the construction of 8M. | We at Subverta, always help in the construction of 8M. | ||
In some countries there has been a qualitative growth and change in the women’s movement in the last few years. Is this true for you? Has this led to a discussion that there is a new feminist wave? Is there a generation gap in the movement? A focus on different issues? A different language? Different methods of struggle and organization? Does this new movement pose itself as part of a global anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial alternative? Does it have international links (and with which other countries/organisations) How does it relate to traditional working-class organisations? To other social movements? | '''In some countries there has been a qualitative growth and change in the women’s movement in the last few years. Is this true for you? Has this led to a discussion that there is a new feminist wave? Is there a generation gap in the movement? A focus on different issues? A different language? Different methods of struggle and organization? Does this new movement pose itself as part of a global anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial alternative? Does it have international links (and with which other countries/organisations) How does it relate to traditional working-class organisations? To other social movements? | ||
''' | |||
Organization Socialist Resistance | '''Organization Socialist Resistance | ||
Country Britain | Country Britain''' | ||
''' | |||
Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition? Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members? | Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition? Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members?''' | ||
There has not been a national coalition of feminist organisations in Britain for many decades. 8M in general tends to be very fragmented – in many parts of country an indoor meeting organised by institutions rather than militant marches or even rallies. | There has not been a national coalition of feminist organisations in Britain for many decades. 8M in general tends to be very fragmented – in many parts of country an indoor meeting organised by institutions rather than militant marches or even rallies. | ||
The only current we were aware of that responded to the women’s strike call in 2017 in Britain were the Wages for Housework current – Selma James et all and the various organisations they are involved in, which tend to be almost exclusively based in London | The only current we were aware of that responded to the women’s strike call in 2017 in Britain were the Wages for Housework current – Selma James et all and the various organisations they are involved in, which tend to be almost exclusively based in London | ||
A new coalition called Women’s Strike was founded we think in 2017 – certainly in advance 8m2018 of which doesn’t seem to involve Wages for Housework people or groups. https://womenstrike.org.uk/. For 2019 they were able to get some modest trade union support – though we don’t know what level of participation this involved. | A new coalition called Women’s Strike was founded we think in 2017 – certainly in advance 8m2018 of which doesn’t seem to involve Wages for Housework people or groups. https://womenstrike.org.uk/. For 2019 they were able to get some modest trade union support – though we don’t know what level of participation this involved. | ||
What were the demands of the mobilization? Was there a manifesto? | '''What were the demands of the mobilization? Was there a manifesto?''' | ||
Not as far as we can tell – its more a critique than a series of demands | Not as far as we can tell – its more a critique than a series of demands | ||
Was the mobilization stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it take place? (Was it representative? Bigger? How much?) | '''Was the mobilization stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it take place? (Was it representative? Bigger? How much?)''' | ||
Some growth but still very small in comparison with southern Europe or Latin America. | Some growth but still very small in comparison with southern Europe or Latin America. | ||
Did it bring together rural and urban organizations? | '''Did it bring together rural and urban organizations?''' | ||
Not relevant in Britain | Not relevant in Britain | ||
To what extent are black women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition? | '''To what extent are black women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition?''' | ||
There are no specifically black womens’ organisations involved at this point but there are a number of specifically migrant women’s groups (Polish, Chinese, Brazilian Kurdish for example) and some of the highest profile women writing and speaking for the group are not British – and may well have links with places eg Italy where the movement is stronger. Website talks about the specific contribution of black feminism and they have been significantly involved in anti-racist and anti-fascist actions | There are no specifically black womens’ organisations involved at this point but there are a number of specifically migrant women’s groups (Polish, Chinese, Brazilian Kurdish for example) and some of the highest profile women writing and speaking for the group are not British – and may well have links with places eg Italy where the movement is stronger. Website talks about the specific contribution of black feminism and they have been significantly involved in anti-racist and anti-fascist actions | ||
To what extent are indigenous women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the coalition leadership? | '''To what extent are indigenous women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the coalition leadership?''' | ||
Not relevant in Britain | Not relevant in Britain | ||
To what extent are trans women's organizations or organizations that definitely include trans women involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the coalition leadership? | '''To what extent are trans women's organizations or organizations that definitely include trans women involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the coalition leadership?''' | ||
There is one trans womens’ organisation involved and from the beginning it has been involved in trans inclusive actions and taking up demands of trans women eg around health cuts and is also very pro-sex worker which is often an overlap | There is one trans womens’ organisation involved and from the beginning it has been involved in trans inclusive actions and taking up demands of trans women eg around health cuts and is also very pro-sex worker which is often an overlap | ||
To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they send only a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands? | '''To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they send only a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands?''' | ||
Not relevant in Britain | Not relevant in Britain | ||
''' | |||
To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement? | To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement?''' | ||
No trace of it on their site | No trace of it on their site | ||
To what extent has there been a collective balance sheet of 8M 2019? | '''To what extent has there been a collective balance sheet of 8M 2019?''' | ||
Don’t know- women’s strike website quiet | Don’t know- women’s strike website quiet on this | ||
To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will the Feminist Strike have a central place in the call? | '''To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will the Feminist Strike have a central place in the call?''' | ||
Don’t know- women’s strike website quiet | Don’t know- women’s strike website quiet on this | ||
To what extent is your political organization involved in this work? | '''To what extent is your political organization involved in this work?''' | ||
Because of the small and fragmented nature of the coalition its difficult. They seem to have 3 bases – London, Bristol and Leeds – we have no women comrades in the latter two. They in majority young women with an anarcho-libertarian approach. We did try and take the issue up in our trade unions but we should have a strategy of doing more work in the Labour Party and trade unions towards 2020 as well as trying to link up with them over more ongoing stuff eg a feminist protest when Boris Johnson, who was clearly involved in domestic violence very recently, is elected leader of the Tory Party. | Because of the small and fragmented nature of the coalition its difficult. They seem to have 3 bases – London, Bristol and Leeds – we have no women comrades in the latter two. They in majority young women with an anarcho-libertarian approach. We did try and take the issue up in our trade unions but we should have a strategy of doing more work in the Labour Party and trade unions towards 2020 as well as trying to link up with them over more ongoing stuff eg a feminist protest when Boris Johnson, who was clearly involved in domestic violence very recently, is elected leader of the Tory Party. | ||
''' | |||
In some countries there has been a qualitative growth and change in the women’s movement in the last few years. Is this true for you? Has this led to a discussion that there is a new feminist wave? Is there a generation gap in the movement? A focus on different issues? A different language? Different methods of struggle and organization? Does this new movement pose itself as part of a global anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial alternative? Does it have international links (and with which other countries/organisations) How does it relate to traditional working-class organisations? To other social movements? | In some countries there has been a qualitative growth and change in the women’s movement in the last few years. Is this true for you? Has this led to a discussion that there is a new feminist wave? Is there a generation gap in the movement? A focus on different issues? A different language? Different methods of struggle and organization? Does this new movement pose itself as part of a global anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial alternative? Does it have international links (and with which other countries/organisations) How does it relate to traditional working-class organisations? To other social movements?''' | ||
Answers already given I think - Women's Strike definitely refers to the development of an international movement. | Answers already given I think - Women's Strike definitely refers to the development of an international movement. | ||
''' | |||
Country Philippines | Country Philippines''' | ||
Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition? | '''Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition?''' | ||
In the Philippines, 8M 2019 mobilizations were not as big like in other countries. Due to political fragmentation, there was never been a coordinated, unified call for Feminist Strike. So, mobilizing organizations or/and coalitions, which are Manila-centered, have their own calls and respective activities in different places. Some of these women’s movements in Manila are our friends but they did not invite us for joint planning or even just to inform us of their plans for their focus is just at the main political center (Manila). | In the Philippines, 8M 2019 mobilizations were not as big like in other countries. Due to political fragmentation, there was never been a coordinated, unified call for Feminist Strike. So, mobilizing organizations or/and coalitions, which are Manila-centered, have their own calls and respective activities in different places. Some of these women’s movements in Manila are our friends but they did not invite us for joint planning or even just to inform us of their plans for their focus is just at the main political center (Manila). | ||
For our group, we have an open campaign organization where all women members are in. However, under Martial Law, the Women Leadership of this campaign machinery has difficulty in mobilizing women in the streets. Especially that in 2018, we experienced arrest and harassment of our group of young activities in one of the cities we operate. Early this year, the military under the order of the president released in the media the lists of some progressive and militant groups tag as terrorists. Some of these groups are our allies. The anti-insurgency campaign of the President is intensively implemented in Mindanao so many | For our group, we have an open campaign organization where all women members are in. However, under Martial Law, the Women Leadership of this campaign machinery has difficulty in mobilizing women in the streets. Especially that in 2018, we experienced arrest and harassment of our group of young activities in one of the cities we operate. Early this year, the military under the order of the president released in the media the lists of some progressive and militant groups tag as terrorists. Some of these groups are our allies. The anti-insurgency campaign of the President is intensively implemented in Mindanao so many of our women comrades are hesitant to mobilize. The Women Commission also saw the need to take extra precautionary measures this time. So instead of going into the streets, we launched coordinated indoor educational discussions where women members in Bangsamoro, IPs and Migrants Communities participated and this took place in several regions. | ||
of our women comrades are hesitant to mobilize. The Women Commission also saw the need to take extra precautionary measures this time. So instead of going into the streets, we launched coordinated indoor educational discussions where women members in Bangsamoro, IPs and Migrants Communities participated and this took place in several regions. | |||
Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members? | '''Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members?''' | ||
In the Manila-centered mobilizations, trade unions were not visible at all. Only all-women’s groups. | In the Manila-centered mobilizations, trade unions were not visible at all. Only all-women’s groups. | ||
What were the demands of the mobilization? Was there a manifesto? | '''What were the demands of the mobilization? Was there a manifesto?''' | ||
Common demands are against the anti-women attacks of the misogynist president denouncing policies and laws oppressive to women and women’s oppressed condition including the increasing poverty, joblessness, ending of contractualisation policy that subjected women in food chains, supermarkets, big malls and everywhere. All kinds of attacks against women under this capitalist system. However, because it is fragmented, each group had each own sort of manifesto or open statement. | Common demands are against the anti-women attacks of the misogynist president denouncing policies and laws oppressive to women and women’s oppressed condition including the increasing poverty, joblessness, ending of contractualisation policy that subjected women in food chains, supermarkets, big malls and everywhere. All kinds of attacks against women under this capitalist system. However, because it is fragmented, each group had each own sort of manifesto or open statement.''' | ||
Was the mobilization stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it takeplace? (Was it representative? Bigger? How much?) | Was the mobilization stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it takeplace? (Was it representative? Bigger? How much?)''' | ||
NO, those were not so big. And it is limited in Manila and few cities in the Visayas and southern Mindanao. In Davao City, the place where President Duterte lives – there was no mobilization or any kind of activity conducted by progressive groups. | NO, those were not so big. And it is limited in Manila and few cities in the Visayas and southern Mindanao. In Davao City, the place where President Duterte lives – there was no mobilization or any kind of activity conducted by progressive groups. | ||
Did it bring together rural and urban organizations? | '''Did it bring together rural and urban organizations? | ||
To what extent are black women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition? | To what extent are black women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition? | ||
To what extent are indigenous women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the coalition leadership? | To what extent are indigenous women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the coalition leadership?''' | ||
As shared earlier, our Indigenous women comrades also ensured that Indigenous women in their communities participate in the 8M 2019 activities. They themselves have their own discussion session. Their issues being push include the regulation of polygamy and arranged marriages, the abolition of forced marriages in the context of rape; violence against women, against mining and the campaign for the protection of their ancestral land now being under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). They campaign also for their SULAGAD – a traditional way of farming or methods of production of safe food. | As shared earlier, our Indigenous women comrades also ensured that Indigenous women in their communities participate in the 8M 2019 activities. They themselves have their own discussion session. Their issues being push include the regulation of polygamy and arranged marriages, the abolition of forced marriages in the context of rape; violence against women, against mining and the campaign for the protection of their ancestral land now being under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). They campaign also for their SULAGAD – a traditional way of farming or methods of production of safe food. | ||
In the tribal structure, it is now part of the demands of our women IP comrades the creation of an all-women special committee for settlement of women’s complaints and grievances. | In the tribal structure, it is now part of the demands of our women IP comrades the creation of an all-women special committee for settlement of women’s complaints and grievances. | ||
` | ` | ||
To what extent are trans women's organizations or organizations that definitely include trans women involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the coalition leadership? | '''To what extent are trans women's organizations or organizations that definitely include trans women involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the coalition leadership?''' | ||
In our country, the issue of trans women in the women’s movement is not yet very much discussed. Women’s movements and groups remain to be composed of all women – whether lesbians or straight. | In our country, the issue of trans women in the women’s movement is not yet very much discussed. Women’s movements and groups remain to be composed of all women – whether lesbians or straight. | ||
There are few small trans woman groups (mostly Manila-based). Some of them are just support groups to the LGBT movement. However, others have started to articulate their own- demands trans people’s health, human rights, security & empowerment. There are known transwoman personalities and politician, but remain least represented in political/public sphere). Demands: gender recognition law aside to the anti-discrimination law | There are few small trans woman groups (mostly Manila-based). Some of them are just support groups to the LGBT movement. However, others have started to articulate their own- demands trans people’s health, human rights, security & empowerment. There are known transwoman personalities and politician, but remain least represented in political/public sphere). Demands: gender recognition law aside to the anti-discrimination law''' | ||
To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they send only a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands? | To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they send only a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands?''' | ||
In our context, we have many women members in the peasantry or the women farmers. We also have all-women farmers organizations that are very much active in women issues, in the food sovereignty campaign – in the struggle for land rights, safe food production, and struggle for environmental protection. These struggles are very close to the heart of our women members in the peasant struggle. | In our context, we have many women members in the peasantry or the women farmers. We also have all-women farmers organizations that are very much active in women issues, in the food sovereignty campaign – in the struggle for land rights, safe food production, and struggle for environmental protection. These struggles are very close to the heart of our women members in the peasant struggle. | ||
To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement? | '''To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement?''' | ||
We still integrate Solidarity for Palestine in our on going peace campaign of which women azre very active. However, in the 8M 2019, it was unfortunately not integrated. | We still integrate Solidarity for Palestine in our on going peace campaign of which women azre very active. However, in the 8M 2019, it was unfortunately not integrated. | ||
To what extent has there been a collective balance sheet of 8M 2019? | '''To what extent has there been a collective balance sheet of 8M 2019?''' | ||
We conducted evaluations of 8M 2019 in different respective areas. But as to the over-all country-level balance sheet, this is not possible. | We conducted evaluations of 8M 2019 in different respective areas. But as to the over-all country-level balance sheet, this is not possible. | ||
To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will the Feminist Strike have a | '''To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will the Feminist Strike have a central place in the call?''' | ||
central place in the call? | |||
It has been initially proposed in our women commission that in 8M 2020 even under the context of extended martial law, we will initiate a new concept of street, open space mobilization that is innovative where we can still display our slogans and calls. It will be synchronized in different regions and cities in Mindanao and we will try to link up with the group of the World March of Women in the Philippines, even if they are confined only in Manila. | It has been initially proposed in our women commission that in 8M 2020 even under the context of extended martial law, we will initiate a new concept of street, open space mobilization that is innovative where we can still display our slogans and calls. It will be synchronized in different regions and cities in Mindanao and we will try to link up with the group of the World March of Women in the Philippines, even if they are confined only in Manila. | ||
This is a project of the women commission of the party, hence, we expect full support of all members. We will ask the national leadership to release a MEMO to the party organization for everyone to take active participation – even asking that men comrades can play an auxiliary support. | This is a project of the women commission of the party, hence, we expect full support of all members. We will ask the national leadership to release a MEMO to the party organization for everyone to take active participation – even asking that men comrades can play an auxiliary support. | ||
''' | |||
In some countries there has been a qualitative growth and change in the women’s movement in the last few years. Is this true for you? Has this led to a discussion that there is a new feminist wave? Is there a generation gap in the movement? A focus on different issues? A different language? Different methods of struggle and organization? Does this new movement pose itself as part of a global anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial alternative? Does it have international links (and with which other countries/organisations) How does it relate to traditional working-class organisations? To other social movements?''' | |||
This is quite difficult to comment as of now given our context when there is Martial Law in Mindanao and with this misogynist and fascist president. | |||
Organisation: SAP (Socialist Workers’ Politics) Danish section of the IVth | '''Organisation: SAP (Socialist Workers’ Politics) Danish section of the IVth | ||
Country: Denmark | Country: Denmark''' | ||
'''Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition?''' | |||
No | No | ||
'''Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members?''' | |||
Some of the more left wing of the traditional trade unions and the Students’ union were in on the call for a demonstration. | Some of the more left wing of the traditional trade unions and the Students’ union were in on the call for a demonstration. | ||
'''What were the demands of the mobilisation? Was there a manifesto?''' | |||
There were no clear or radical demands. The biggest demonstration in the capital city was very much a “bring your own slogan” demonstration and was also called by the social democratic party. Their presence was protested against by left wing radical militants who problematised their extremely racist policies throughout the last few years especially. | There were no clear or radical demands. The biggest demonstration in the capital city was very much a “bring your own slogan” demonstration and was also called by the social democratic party. Their presence was protested against by left wing radical militants who problematised their extremely racist policies throughout the last few years especially. | ||
'''Was the mobilisation stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it take place? (Was is representative? Bigger? How much?)''' | |||
There were more people on the streets in Copenhagen (the official number is 7000) than last year, but last year had a particularly weak demonstration. There were mobilisations in at least three cities, but only one bigger one in Copenhagen. | There were more people on the streets in Copenhagen (the official number is 7000) than last year, but last year had a particularly weak demonstration. There were mobilisations in at least three cities, but only one bigger one in Copenhagen. | ||
'''Did it bring together rural and urban organizations?''' | |||
No. | No. | ||
Not really to any | '''To what extent are black women’s organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition? | ||
'''Not really to any extent. | |||
'''To what extent are indigenous women’s organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the leadership of the coalition?''' Not really to any extend. | |||
'''To what extent are trans women’s organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the leadership of the coalition?''' | |||
There was no explicit declaration of solidarity. | Not really to any extend. There was a racialised, trans speaker at the demonstration in Copenhagen. | ||
'''To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they only send a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands?''' | |||
To what extent has there been any collective balance sheet of 8M 2019 None. | Not really to any extent. | ||
To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will he feminist strike have a central place in the call? | '''To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement?''' | ||
There was no explicit declaration of solidarity. | |||
'''To what extent has there been any collective balance sheet of 8M 2019''' None. | |||
'''To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will he feminist strike have a central place in the call?''' | |||
There has been an open call for activists by the same independent initiative that planned 8M 2019, but to no extend in neither the Socialist Youth Front nor the Red-Green Alliance. | There has been an open call for activists by the same independent initiative that planned 8M 2019, but to no extend in neither the Socialist Youth Front nor the Red-Green Alliance. | ||
'''To what extent is your political organization involved in this work?''' | |||
Neither has played any major role in the last two years, but the demonstrations has been arranged by members from both organisations under an independent initiative. | Neither has played any major role in the last two years, but the demonstrations has been arranged by members from both organisations under an independent initiative. | ||
''' | |||
In some countries there has been a qualitative growth and change in the women’s movement in the last few years. Is this true for you? Has this led to the discussion that there is a new feminist wave? Is there a generation gap in the movement? A focus on different issues? A different language? Different methods of struggle and organization? Does this new movement pose itself as part of a global anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial alternative? Does it have international links? (and with which other countries/organisations?) How does it relate to traditional working class organisations? To other social movements?''' | |||
There has been a lasting increase in feminist consciousness and especially the impact of the MeToo movement was felt around Denmark, however this momentum has unfortunately not been taken up by the left or any others and turned into real political movement with political demands - yet. Thus, individualistic identity politics with an extreme focus on personal responsibility of individual ‘allies’ instead of attacking the larger social and economical structures and with little to no focus on the actual emancipation coming from groups of the oppressed themselves, have come to take up too much space, because it is very visible online and there is no real movement presence anywhere else. This is also true in some parts for the lgbtqi-movement and the antiracist “movement”. All of this has been met with a backlash from the extreme right, extreme center and economist and populist parts of the left (including people within the Red-Green Alliance) talking about “political correctness”, “division of the left”etc, and to some extent also a transphobic backlash, which luckily has only been a minor issue in feminist circles. | There has been a lasting increase in feminist consciousness and especially the impact of the MeToo movement was felt around Denmark, however this momentum has unfortunately not been taken up by the left or any others and turned into real political movement with political demands - yet. Thus, individualistic identity politics with an extreme focus on personal responsibility of individual ‘allies’ instead of attacking the larger social and economical structures and with little to no focus on the actual emancipation coming from groups of the oppressed themselves, have come to take up too much space, because it is very visible online and there is no real movement presence anywhere else. This is also true in some parts for the lgbtqi-movement and the antiracist “movement”. All of this has been met with a backlash from the extreme right, extreme center and economist and populist parts of the left (including people within the Red-Green Alliance) talking about “political correctness”, “division of the left”etc, and to some extent also a transphobic backlash, which luckily has only been a minor issue in feminist circles. | ||
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In these newer feminist circles (mostly made up of young people), there does not seem to be any big idea of being part of an international (anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial) movement, and generally the horizon seems to be limited to inside the national borders. Perhaps during the height of #MeToo there was a feeling of international cohesion, but not much notice has been paid to the rest of the global feminist movement. And no link to traditional working class organisations or other social movements seems to exist in Denmark. | In these newer feminist circles (mostly made up of young people), there does not seem to be any big idea of being part of an international (anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial) movement, and generally the horizon seems to be limited to inside the national borders. Perhaps during the height of #MeToo there was a feeling of international cohesion, but not much notice has been paid to the rest of the global feminist movement. And no link to traditional working class organisations or other social movements seems to exist in Denmark. | ||
Organization: Jammu Kashmir Awami Workers Party | '''Organization: Jammu Kashmir Awami Workers Party | ||
Country: Pakistan | Country: Pakistan''' | ||
Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition? | '''Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition?''' | ||
Thousands of women from a cross-section of society rallied in cities across Pakistan as part of the "Aurat March" (women's march) to mark the International Women's Day 2019. This was a call from a national coalition of different feminist, social and political women activists around the country. Women from Kashmir also participated in the March. | Thousands of women from a cross-section of society rallied in cities across Pakistan as part of the "Aurat March" (women's march) to mark the International Women's Day 2019. This was a call from a national coalition of different feminist, social and political women activists around the country. Women from Kashmir also participated in the March. | ||
The "aurat march" was first launched in the southern port city of Karachi last year when a group of women decided to expand the feminist movement beyond the upper-class of the society. | The "aurat march" was first launched in the southern port city of Karachi last year when a group of women decided to expand the feminist movement beyond the upper-class of the society. | ||
Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members? | '''Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members?''' | ||
There were no trade unions involved in this mobalisation as organisations. But few women leaders from trade unions participated in individual capacity. Few labour organisations from civil society also participated in the Aurat March and mobilised informal sector women workers. | There were no trade unions involved in this mobalisation as organisations. But few women leaders from trade unions participated in individual capacity. Few labour organisations from civil society also participated in the Aurat March and mobilised informal sector women workers. | ||
Lady Health Workers Association (LHWA) with a membership of about 90,000 women from across the country was one of the first to have endorsed the initiative. | Lady Health Workers Association (LHWA) with a membership of about 90,000 women from across the country was one of the first to have endorsed the initiative. | ||
What were the demands of the mobilization? Was there a manifesto? | '''What were the demands of the mobilization? Was there a manifesto?''' | ||
It was the march for the person, who was victimized by patriarchy. It was march for all the women to be treated as equal as men. Aurat march was mobilized to unite women across Pakistan to demand their social and economic rights and demand an end to gender violence and discrimination. It was about women taking charge of their own destiny and paving the way for their daughters. Demands of mobilization were economic justice, equal labour, safety at workplace, acknowledgement of work in the home, equality at work, equality at public places, sexual harassment and access to equal justice as men. | It was the march for the person, who was victimized by patriarchy. It was march for all the women to be treated as equal as men. Aurat march was mobilized to unite women across Pakistan to demand their social and economic rights and demand an end to gender violence and discrimination. It was about women taking charge of their own destiny and paving the way for their daughters. Demands of mobilization were economic justice, equal labour, safety at workplace, acknowledgement of work in the home, equality at work, equality at public places, sexual harassment and access to equal justice as men. | ||
Was the mobilization stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it take place? (Was it representative? Bigger? How much?) | Was the mobilization stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it take place? (Was it representative? Bigger? How much?) | ||
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This time younger feminist movement was enabled by the older feminist movement of the 1980s, but this has a different energy, a different face. The issues facing women today are inequality in public spaces, discrimination at work, no safety measures at workplace, and most importantly, no infrastructure support, while the previous generation fought for political rights. The older generation laid the foundation stones for the new feminist movement. | This time younger feminist movement was enabled by the older feminist movement of the 1980s, but this has a different energy, a different face. The issues facing women today are inequality in public spaces, discrimination at work, no safety measures at workplace, and most importantly, no infrastructure support, while the previous generation fought for political rights. The older generation laid the foundation stones for the new feminist movement. | ||
Illustrators created the artworks for the march, and many other illustrators came together to make their own versions of the "self-expression" of women. | Illustrators created the artworks for the march, and many other illustrators came together to make their own versions of the "self-expression" of women. | ||
The posters raised in Aurat March meant to show Pakistani women as strong, opinionated, loud and can reflect the bold stand." | The posters raised in Aurat March meant to show Pakistani women as strong, opinionated, loud and can reflect the bold stand."''' | ||
Did it bring together rural and urban organizations? | Did it bring together rural and urban organizations?''' | ||
Not much actually, there were very few rural women mobilised by some NGOs. Mostly the women were form urban areas. | Not much actually, there were very few rural women mobilised by some NGOs. Mostly the women were form urban areas. | ||
To what extent are black women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition? | '''To what extent are black women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition?''' | ||
Not relevant | Not relevant | ||
To what extent are indigenous women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the coalition leadership? | '''To what extent are indigenous women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the coalition leadership?''' | ||
Not from indigenous but women from slums were part of this march. They are being displaced by the Government and fighting for their ownership rights to be legalized. | Not from indigenous but women from slums were part of this march. They are being displaced by the Government and fighting for their ownership rights to be legalized. | ||
To what extent are trans women's organizations or organizations that definitely include trans women involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the coalition leadership? | '''To what extent are trans women's organizations or organizations that definitely include trans women involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the coalition leadership?''' | ||
This was first time when some of the | This was first time when some of the trans women also participated openly in Aurat March in cities like Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad and they raised slogans for their rights. There are no trans women in the leadership. The leadership is mostly in hands of feminist movement. | ||
To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they send only a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands? | '''To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they send only a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands?''' | ||
Very few peasant women participated in the march. Peasant women are not very well organised in Pakistan and there are not very strong links between feminist women leadership and peasant women. | Very few peasant women participated in the march. Peasant women are not very well organised in Pakistan and there are not very strong links between feminist women leadership and peasant women. | ||
To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement? | '''To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement?''' | ||
There is a sense of solidarity between feminist movement and demands for Palestine struggle but during the march there was no demand or slogans raised for Palestine. | There is a sense of solidarity between feminist movement and demands for Palestine struggle but during the march there was no demand or slogans raised for Palestine. | ||
To what extent has there been a collective balance sheet of 8M 2019? | '''To what extent has there been a collective balance sheet of 8M 2019?''' | ||
It is no secret that feminism is often co-opted by many to be viewed as a Western construct which marginalises non-Western identities. Western hegemony over feminist movements then feeds into repulsion towards feminism that is found in countries such as Pakistan. | It is no secret that feminism is often co-opted by many to be viewed as a Western construct which marginalises non-Western identities. Western hegemony over feminist movements then feeds into repulsion towards feminism that is found in countries such as Pakistan. | ||
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Women across social media have come forward to share their stories under the hashtag #WhyIMarch to support the aurat march on International Women's Day. It was a huge success of the march that taboo topics like women’s rights to their own bodies, their sexuality, are being discussed for the first time. Because it’s OK to ask the government for the right to education but you can’t say you are happily divorced because the breakdown of a marriage is a shameful thing, a woman’s failure. | Women across social media have come forward to share their stories under the hashtag #WhyIMarch to support the aurat march on International Women's Day. It was a huge success of the march that taboo topics like women’s rights to their own bodies, their sexuality, are being discussed for the first time. Because it’s OK to ask the government for the right to education but you can’t say you are happily divorced because the breakdown of a marriage is a shameful thing, a woman’s failure. | ||
To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will the Feminist Strike have a central place in the call? | '''To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will the Feminist Strike have a central place in the call?''' | ||
There is lot of pressure on the organisers of Aurat March (women’s march) after the event held in 2019. For 2020, there will be need of lot more mobilisation and effort to organise the march. Religious section criticized a lot, even some organizers of march got harassed and threats. | There is lot of pressure on the organisers of Aurat March (women’s march) after the event held in 2019. For 2020, there will be need of lot more mobilisation and effort to organise the march. Religious section criticized a lot, even some organizers of march got harassed and threats. | ||
To what extent is your political organization involved in this work? | '''To what extent is your political organization involved in this work?''' | ||
As we are initial stage of building our organization (Jammu Kashmir Awami Workers Party) but have support at all level to empower women. We believe that just society is based on gender equality. | As we are initial stage of building our organization (Jammu Kashmir Awami Workers Party) but have support at all level to empower women. We believe that just society is based on gender equality. | ||
''' | |||
In some countries there has been a qualitative growth and change in the women’s movement in the last few years. Is this true for you? Has this led to a discussion that there is a new feminist wave? Is there a generation gap in the movement? A focus on different issues? A different language? Different methods of struggle and organization? Does this new movement pose itself as part of a global anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial alternative? Does it have international links (and with which other countries/organisations) How does it relate to traditional working-class organisations? To other social movements?''' | |||
Yes there is no doubt that in some countries we can see qualitative growth and change in women’s movement. While the challenges for women are increasing, facing more oppression but on other side, women are ready to resist and becoming part of feminist movement. They have different issues to fight as compare to past struggles but there is still question on access to their fundamental rights. To some extent this new movement pose itself as part of global anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial alternative. They have very few links with international organizations. | |||
'''Organization | |||
Organization | |||
COMUNA - Brazilian Section of the IV International. | COMUNA - Brazilian Section of the IV International. | ||
PSOL - Partido Socialismo e Liberdade (Socialism and Freedom Party) Brazil | PSOL - Partido Socialismo e Liberdade (Socialism and Freedom Party) Brazil'''''' | ||
1. Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition? | 1. Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition?''' | ||
The Feminist Strike was not called in Brazil in 2019, as was not in Argentina. There is no unitary national coalition. Brazil has important characteristics, such as its continental dimension, as well as a strong political culture of regionality, which leads to a greater dispersion of feminists, on the one hand, and greater plurality and representativeness - local and regional - of women's organizations, on the other. A sample of this is the São Paulo convocation, which alone was signed by more than 1 hundred organizations. But, it is important to note that the call has not been made only by women's organizations, mixed movements have also been added. | The Feminist Strike was not called in Brazil in 2019, as was not in Argentina. There is no unitary national coalition. Brazil has important characteristics, such as its continental dimension, as well as a strong political culture of regionality, which leads to a greater dispersion of feminists, on the one hand, and greater plurality and representativeness - local and regional - of women's organizations, on the other. A sample of this is the São Paulo convocation, which alone was signed by more than 1 hundred organizations. But, it is important to note that the call has not been made only by women's organizations, mixed movements have also been added. | ||
The election of Bolsonaro represents a war against women, and also against the poor, black people and LGBTIQ +. This 8M can be considered as the most unified in many years, since it was possible to carry out 1 unified action in all Brazilian capitals. | The election of Bolsonaro represents a war against women, and also against the poor, black people and LGBTIQ +. This 8M can be considered as the most unified in many years, since it was possible to carry out 1 unified action in all Brazilian capitals. | ||
Some organizations that called the 8M at the national level: AMB (Articulation of Brazilian Women); CDD (Catholics for the Right to Decide); Evangelicals for Gender Equality; Defemde (Feminist Network of Jurists); MMM (World March of Women); MMC (Movement of Peasant Women); PLPs (Popular Legal Promoters); UBM (Brazilian Union of Women); CMP (Central of Popular Movements); CPT (Pastoral Land Commission); CTB (Federation of the Workers of Brazil); CUT (Unified Federation of Workers); Intersindical; Popular Brazil Front; National Front against the criminalization of women and for the legalization of abortion; Front of Fearless People; MAB (Movement of the Affected by Dams); MNU (Unified Black Movement); MTST (Movement of the Homeless Workers); MST (Movement of Landless Rural Workers); MAM (Movement for Popular Sovereignty in Mining); MAB (Movement of Affected by Dams); APIB (Articulation of the Indigenous Peoples of Brazil); PCB (Brazilian Communist Party); PCdoB (Communist Party of Brazil); PT (Workers' Party); Psol (Socialism and Freedom Party). That is, political parties (left and progressive), unions, indigenous women, quilombolas and peasant; women of the country and the city; social and religious movements. | Some organizations that called the 8M at the national level: AMB (Articulation of Brazilian Women); CDD (Catholics for the Right to Decide); Evangelicals for Gender Equality; Defemde (Feminist Network of Jurists); MMM (World March of Women); MMC (Movement of Peasant Women); PLPs (Popular Legal Promoters); UBM (Brazilian Union of Women); CMP (Central of Popular Movements); CPT (Pastoral Land Commission); CTB (Federation of the Workers of Brazil); CUT (Unified Federation of Workers); Intersindical; Popular Brazil Front; National Front against the criminalization of women and for the legalization of abortion; Front of Fearless People; MAB (Movement of the Affected by Dams); MNU (Unified Black Movement); MTST (Movement of the Homeless Workers); MST (Movement of Landless Rural Workers); MAM (Movement for Popular Sovereignty in Mining); MAB (Movement of Affected by Dams); APIB (Articulation of the Indigenous Peoples of Brazil); PCB (Brazilian Communist Party); PCdoB (Communist Party of Brazil); PT (Workers' Party); Psol (Socialism and Freedom Party). That is, political parties (left and progressive), unions, indigenous women, quilombolas and peasant; women of the country and the city; social and religious movements. | ||
2. Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members? | 2. '''Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members?''' | ||
Many unions, from different categories of workers participated - the (sexual) division of labor was not central. Some Trade Union Federations convened and participated in the mobilization on March 8. But, the participation of their militancy varied in each Brazilian State, with lesser or greater weight, although the Social Welfare Reform was one of the main demands of women and main agenda in the national scenario. | Many unions, from different categories of workers participated - the (sexual) division of labor was not central. Some Trade Union Federations convened and participated in the mobilization on March 8. But, the participation of their militancy varied in each Brazilian State, with lesser or greater weight, although the Social Welfare Reform was one of the main demands of women and main agenda in the national scenario. | ||
3. What were the demands of the mobilization? Was there a manifesto? | '''3. What were the demands of the mobilization? Was there a manifesto?''' | ||
As mentioned, Brazil has continental dimensions and important cultural differences, so each region established a dynamic, according to different force relations. In all the capitals, in addition to dozens of other cities in the country, almost weekly plenary sessions have been held since mid-January to prepare what was the first mobilization against the government of Jair Bolsonaro, it is necessary to highlight this point. We can list other unitary guidelines: Justice for Marielle, against the Social Welfare Reform and the end of violence against women. | As mentioned, Brazil has continental dimensions and important cultural differences, so each region established a dynamic, according to different force relations. In all the capitals, in addition to dozens of other cities in the country, almost weekly plenary sessions have been held since mid-January to prepare what was the first mobilization against the government of Jair Bolsonaro, it is necessary to highlight this point. We can list other unitary guidelines: Justice for Marielle, against the Social Welfare Reform and the end of violence against women. | ||
We emphasize the role of black women in the struggle for jobs, better wages, the fight against incarceration (of young women, their children and their families), against the criminalization of poverty; the struggle for Legalization of Abortion; the defence of the rights of migrant women - no woman is illegal; against the environmental crimes of Vale do Rio Doce, in Brumadinho and Mariana ("feminist procession"); the resistance of people of “terreiros” (meeting place of the religions of African origins); and presence of indigenous women; and LGBTIQ + demands. | We emphasize the role of black women in the struggle for jobs, better wages, the fight against incarceration (of young women, their children and their families), against the criminalization of poverty; the struggle for Legalization of Abortion; the defence of the rights of migrant women - no woman is illegal; against the environmental crimes of Vale do Rio Doce, in Brumadinho and Mariana ("feminist procession"); the resistance of people of “terreiros” (meeting place of the religions of African origins); and presence of indigenous women; and LGBTIQ + demands. | ||
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4. Was the mobilization stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it take place? (Was it representative? Bigger? How much?) | '''4. Was the mobilization stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it take place? (Was it representative? Bigger? How much?)''' | ||
The mobilizations of 8M in Brazil must be understood in their decentralized dimensions. They occurred in all capitals and many cities of different sizes across the country (even in small cities motivated by # EleNão!). More than a hundred thousand women throughout Brazil have been occupying the streets. Some estimates: in São Paulo: 50 thousand; in Rio de Janeiro: 50 thousand; in Recife: 15 thousand; in Belo Horizonte: 30 thousand. | The mobilizations of 8M in Brazil must be understood in their decentralized dimensions. They occurred in all capitals and many cities of different sizes across the country (even in small cities motivated by # EleNão!). More than a hundred thousand women throughout Brazil have been occupying the streets. Some estimates: in São Paulo: 50 thousand; in Rio de Janeiro: 50 thousand; in Recife: 15 thousand; in Belo Horizonte: 30 thousand. | ||
5. Did it bring together rural and urban organizations? | '''5. Did it bring together rural and urban organizations?''' | ||
Yes | Yes | ||
6. To what extent are black women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition? | '''6. To what extent are black women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition?''' | ||
Many black women's organizations have emerged in Brazil in recent years. In particular, small groups of young women. Many young black feminists have found in cultural movements an important space for denouncing their reality. Issues such as the right to the body, against the criminalization of poverty, labor rights and better salaries, quotas in universities, the right to religion and religiosity of African origins, and free expression of their ancestral culture are some of the demands. It is also important to highlight the participation of the Black Women March, a large and national black women's organization that has exists since 2015. | Many black women's organizations have emerged in Brazil in recent years. In particular, small groups of young women. Many young black feminists have found in cultural movements an important space for denouncing their reality. Issues such as the right to the body, against the criminalization of poverty, labor rights and better salaries, quotas in universities, the right to religion and religiosity of African origins, and free expression of their ancestral culture are some of the demands. It is also important to highlight the participation of the Black Women March, a large and national black women's organization that has exists since 2015. | ||
7. To what extent are indigenous women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the coalition leadership? | '''7. To what extent are indigenous women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the coalition leadership?''' | ||
The presence of indigenous women in women's movements has had greater visibility, albeit less than could be expected the Brazilian reality. The attacks of Bolsonaro government have contributed to indigenous women taking up public space. Their demands are linked to the defense of land and territory, common goods and well-being. In August 2019, the 1st National Meeting of Indigenous Women will take place with the theme "Territory: our body, our spirit", whose objective is to give visibility to the actions of indigenous women, discussing their realities, recognizing and strengthening their protagonism and capacities in the defense and guarantee of human rights, especially care for the Mother Earth, the territory, the body and the spirit. It is estimated that 2,000 women will participate, the march will coincide with the Marcha das Margaridas (100,000 rural, forest and water women workers). | The presence of indigenous women in women's movements has had greater visibility, albeit less than could be expected the Brazilian reality. The attacks of Bolsonaro government have contributed to indigenous women taking up public space. Their demands are linked to the defense of land and territory, common goods and well-being. In August 2019, the 1st National Meeting of Indigenous Women will take place with the theme "Territory: our body, our spirit", whose objective is to give visibility to the actions of indigenous women, discussing their realities, recognizing and strengthening their protagonism and capacities in the defense and guarantee of human rights, especially care for the Mother Earth, the territory, the body and the spirit. It is estimated that 2,000 women will participate, the march will coincide with the Marcha das Margaridas (100,000 rural, forest and water women workers). | ||
''' | |||
8. To what extent are trans women's organizations or organizations that definitely include trans women involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the coalition leadership? | 8. To what extent are trans women's organizations or organizations that definitely include trans women involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the coalition leadership?''' | ||
Bolsonaro's attacks also target LGBTIQ +, there is an increase in police and state violence fueled by the hate speech of the president and his supporters. Some unity demands in the movement: to fight against the "gender ideology" and against setbacks in rights. It is important to highlight, besides the activism of trans women, the presence of Amparar (Association of Friends and Relatives of Prisoners) in the fight for the rights of their children, women and trans incarcerated. This entity has had joint initiatives with the MNU (Unified Black Movement), Uneafro and the Network for Resistance and Protection against Genocide. And, the Mothers for Diversity movement against homo-trans-lesbo and biphobia. In Brazil, every 48 hours a trans person is murdered. It is the country that kills most transvestites and trans in the world. Of the total, 67% of victims of violence are young, up to 29 years old. While the average life expectancy of the Brazilian population is 75 years, a transvestite or trans woman lives only 35 years, according to the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics). These data were widely reported by trans women. In defence of life, trans visibility was also on the agenda. There has been a movement on the part of trans women in recent years for their participation in feminism against patriarchal violence and the defence of trans identity. Part of it considers that the Maria da Penha Law represents an advance in the rights of women, and that it should be extended to transvestite and transsexual women. The participation of trans women towards 8M is different in each region or locality in Brazil. In general, they are still not very present. | Bolsonaro's attacks also target LGBTIQ +, there is an increase in police and state violence fueled by the hate speech of the president and his supporters. Some unity demands in the movement: to fight against the "gender ideology" and against setbacks in rights. It is important to highlight, besides the activism of trans women, the presence of Amparar (Association of Friends and Relatives of Prisoners) in the fight for the rights of their children, women and trans incarcerated. This entity has had joint initiatives with the MNU (Unified Black Movement), Uneafro and the Network for Resistance and Protection against Genocide. And, the Mothers for Diversity movement against homo-trans-lesbo and biphobia. In Brazil, every 48 hours a trans person is murdered. It is the country that kills most transvestites and trans in the world. Of the total, 67% of victims of violence are young, up to 29 years old. While the average life expectancy of the Brazilian population is 75 years, a transvestite or trans woman lives only 35 years, according to the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics). These data were widely reported by trans women. In defence of life, trans visibility was also on the agenda. There has been a movement on the part of trans women in recent years for their participation in feminism against patriarchal violence and the defence of trans identity. Part of it considers that the Maria da Penha Law represents an advance in the rights of women, and that it should be extended to transvestite and transsexual women. The participation of trans women towards 8M is different in each region or locality in Brazil. In general, they are still not very present. | ||
9. To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they send only a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands? | '''9. To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they send only a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands?''' | ||
The Movement of Peasant Women was very present in the mobilizations of 8M and responsible for the most radical direct actions in Brazil. In Rio Grande do Norte, rural workers distributed 15 tons of food produced in state settlements, and in Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul) panels were organized on feminicide, violence against women and reproductive rights. Two hundred militants from the Landless Workers Movement (MST) and the Movement for Popular Sovereignty in Mining (MAM) occupied a unit of the Australian mining company in Bahia to protest against the predatory model of nickel exploitation and the risks of contamination of the rivers by dams of the company. In Belo Horizonte, one of the main slogans was: “Profit is not worth living. Our life is worth more” to denounce the environmental crime of Vale do Rio Doce and violence against women. They defend agroecology, the work of women and social security rights, against agribusiness, against pension reform that changes the criteria for rural and riverine workers as special insured. In addition, they denounced Bolsonaro's initiatives to disconnect the rural unions and the National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform. In August, the Marcha das Margaridas will be held, coordinated by the National Confederation of Farm Workers and Family Farmers (CONTAG) - more than 4,000 affiliated unions - in partnership with the feminist and women workers' movements, trade union federations and international organizations. | The Movement of Peasant Women was very present in the mobilizations of 8M and responsible for the most radical direct actions in Brazil. In Rio Grande do Norte, rural workers distributed 15 tons of food produced in state settlements, and in Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul) panels were organized on feminicide, violence against women and reproductive rights. Two hundred militants from the Landless Workers Movement (MST) and the Movement for Popular Sovereignty in Mining (MAM) occupied a unit of the Australian mining company in Bahia to protest against the predatory model of nickel exploitation and the risks of contamination of the rivers by dams of the company. In Belo Horizonte, one of the main slogans was: “Profit is not worth living. Our life is worth more” to denounce the environmental crime of Vale do Rio Doce and violence against women. They defend agroecology, the work of women and social security rights, against agribusiness, against pension reform that changes the criteria for rural and riverine workers as special insured. In addition, they denounced Bolsonaro's initiatives to disconnect the rural unions and the National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform. In August, the Marcha das Margaridas will be held, coordinated by the National Confederation of Farm Workers and Family Farmers (CONTAG) - more than 4,000 affiliated unions - in partnership with the feminist and women workers' movements, trade union federations and international organizations. | ||
10. To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement? | '''10. To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement?''' | ||
In Brazil, the WMW presented solidarity with the Palestinians as one of the demands. They animate the BDS campaign (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions). | In Brazil, the WMW presented solidarity with the Palestinians as one of the demands. They animate the BDS campaign (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions). | ||
11. To what extent has there been a collective balance sheet of 8M 2019? | '''11. To what extent has there been a collective balance sheet of 8M 2019?''' | ||
Some 8M regional organizations conducted balance of the protests and actions. In some localities it remained as a permanent movement, as in Belo Horizonte. Some initiatives have continued, exclusively in social networks, but in a very diffuse way - without meetings or coordinated actions of streets. | Some 8M regional organizations conducted balance of the protests and actions. In some localities it remained as a permanent movement, as in Belo Horizonte. Some initiatives have continued, exclusively in social networks, but in a very diffuse way - without meetings or coordinated actions of streets. | ||
12. To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will the Feminist Strike have a central place in the call? | '''12. To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will the Feminist Strike have a central place in the call?''' | ||
In Brazil, the strike has not been central to the 8M and is not being accumulated for its convocation in 2020. It is possible that the Brazilian situation leads us to a strike, although we have to reflect more on its sense and meaning. | In Brazil, the strike has not been central to the 8M and is not being accumulated for its convocation in 2020. It is possible that the Brazilian situation leads us to a strike, although we have to reflect more on its sense and meaning. | ||
''' | |||
13. To what extent is your political organization involved in this work? | 13. To what extent is your political organization involved in this work?''' | ||
The women of COMUNA take part of commissions of women in each community in which we are organized. The women of the PSOL have a relevant presence in the Brazilian capitals. We all participate as women of PSOL in the organization of 8M, as well as represent the women's and feminist movements in which we integrate. | The women of COMUNA take part of commissions of women in each community in which we are organized. The women of the PSOL have a relevant presence in the Brazilian capitals. We all participate as women of PSOL in the organization of 8M, as well as represent the women's and feminist movements in which we integrate. | ||
''' | |||
14. In some countries there has been a qualitative growth and change in the women’s movement in the last few years. Is this true for you? Has this led to a discussion that there is a new feminist wave? Is there a generation gap in the movement? A focus on different issues? A different language? Different methods of struggle and organization? Does this new movement pose itself as part of a global anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial alternative? Does it have international links (and with which other countries/organisations) How does it relate to traditional working-class organisations? To other social movements?''' | |||
The women of COMUNA have observed the quantitative and qualitative growth of women's movements. We have a historical trajectory in the women's and feminist movements, in the parties and in the political organizations in which we participate, even though we have different experiences corresponding to our different militant generations. The women of COMUNA are aware that the World March of Women was a milestone in the Brazilian feminist movement when it took on the fight against poverty (equal work, equal pay) and against sexist violence. It related the daily struggle of women to the "macro-economy-politics", that is, constructed a perspective of popular and diverse feminism. We identified in the WMW the connection between eco-socialism and eco-feminism, the dialogue with the demands of rural and urban women, and feminist internationalism. Their insertion of these debates into the feminist agenda was fundamental to the rapprochement with the peasant women and of these with the feminist agendas. We evaluated that the WMW without having the hegemony in the feminist movement was able to elevate the consciences of many women, from different sectors, to think-to make another world, with new social relations, free of patriarchy. We believe that it was a success that, at a given moment, in different countries, companions of the IV, different organizations and political parties, had opted for this alternative. There are many contradictions in each of our experiences - female quarters with the WMW - in Brazil, the alignment of part of the direction of this organization to the developmentist (and liberal social) governments of the PT made its construction impossible for a considerable part of COMUNA. | The women of COMUNA have observed the quantitative and qualitative growth of women's movements. We have a historical trajectory in the women's and feminist movements, in the parties and in the political organizations in which we participate, even though we have different experiences corresponding to our different militant generations. The women of COMUNA are aware that the World March of Women was a milestone in the Brazilian feminist movement when it took on the fight against poverty (equal work, equal pay) and against sexist violence. It related the daily struggle of women to the "macro-economy-politics", that is, constructed a perspective of popular and diverse feminism. We identified in the WMW the connection between eco-socialism and eco-feminism, the dialogue with the demands of rural and urban women, and feminist internationalism. Their insertion of these debates into the feminist agenda was fundamental to the rapprochement with the peasant women and of these with the feminist agendas. We evaluated that the WMW without having the hegemony in the feminist movement was able to elevate the consciences of many women, from different sectors, to think-to make another world, with new social relations, free of patriarchy. We believe that it was a success that, at a given moment, in different countries, companions of the IV, different organizations and political parties, had opted for this alternative. There are many contradictions in each of our experiences - female quarters with the WMW - in Brazil, the alignment of part of the direction of this organization to the developmentist (and liberal social) governments of the PT made its construction impossible for a considerable part of COMUNA. | ||
But what do we learn from them? | '''But what do we learn from them? | ||
What challenges remain and what new challenges have arisen? | What challenges remain and what new challenges have arisen?''' | ||
We consider that one of the challenges lies in building strategies to articulate revolutionary marxism and eco-feminism with the growing movement of women. We understand that there is a rise of the movement (s) of women and feminist (s), but not necessarily the inauguration of a new wave of feminism. We have identified a new and younger generation of women with a lot of reference in feminism, articulating the struggles of women LBTs (rights over bodies and the debate about families), peripheral black women, indigenous women and quilombolas. We also understand that there is a combination of new forms of struggles, including digital ones, with different feminist generations. In order to be characterized as a new wave (what wave?). We would have to consider the duration of women's struggles and the overcoming of the previous guidelines. We have a tendency to consider as a "new" milestone, the insertion of the demands of women peasants (rural workers, quilombolas, riverine, fisherwomen) articulating human emancipation, ecology and liberation of women from patriarchal oppression. | We consider that one of the challenges lies in building strategies to articulate revolutionary marxism and eco-feminism with the growing movement of women. We understand that there is a rise of the movement (s) of women and feminist (s), but not necessarily the inauguration of a new wave of feminism. We have identified a new and younger generation of women with a lot of reference in feminism, articulating the struggles of women LBTs (rights over bodies and the debate about families), peripheral black women, indigenous women and quilombolas. We also understand that there is a combination of new forms of struggles, including digital ones, with different feminist generations. In order to be characterized as a new wave (what wave?). We would have to consider the duration of women's struggles and the overcoming of the previous guidelines. We have a tendency to consider as a "new" milestone, the insertion of the demands of women peasants (rural workers, quilombolas, riverine, fisherwomen) articulating human emancipation, ecology and liberation of women from patriarchal oppression. | ||
Organization: MES | '''Organization: MES | ||
Country: Brazil | Country: Brazil''' | ||
Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition? | '''Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition?''' | ||
No strike was called. There was a call organized through Facebook events, mainly. Such events arise from the articulation of various feminist organizations in assemblies and meetings in each department/state. There is a certain tradition of 8M preparatory meetings in Brazil and unions, parties, social movements, feminist movements and independent women participate in them. | No strike was called. There was a call organized through Facebook events, mainly. Such events arise from the articulation of various feminist organizations in assemblies and meetings in each department/state. There is a certain tradition of 8M preparatory meetings in Brazil and unions, parties, social movements, feminist movements and independent women participate in them. | ||
Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members? | '''Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members?''' | ||
The main trade union centers of the broad left field participate. This time, the 8M had as its center the fight against the Pension Reform - an issue on the agenda of the National Congress. For this reason, the unions had significant columns of women. | The main trade union centers of the broad left field participate. This time, the 8M had as its center the fight against the Pension Reform - an issue on the agenda of the National Congress. For this reason, the unions had significant columns of women. | ||
What were the demands of the mobilization? Was there a manifesto? | '''What were the demands of the mobilization? Was there a manifesto?''' | ||
There was a manifesto for each event/call in the states. The central focus was on the fight against the Pension Reform and feminicide. To a lesser extent, the theme of Lula Livre ("Free Lula") arose, when the sectors of the PT managed to hegemonize some meetings. Our women, through their movements, acted to prevent this theme of Lula's freedom from becoming the center of the 2019 mobilization, despite it being quite fair. This position found a lot of support among independent women concerned about giving more voice to feminist demands in the country. | There was a manifesto for each event/call in the states. The central focus was on the fight against the Pension Reform and feminicide. To a lesser extent, the theme of Lula Livre ("Free Lula") arose, when the sectors of the PT managed to hegemonize some meetings. Our women, through their movements, acted to prevent this theme of Lula's freedom from becoming the center of the 2019 mobilization, despite it being quite fair. This position found a lot of support among independent women concerned about giving more voice to feminist demands in the country. | ||
Was the mobilization stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it take place? (Was it representative? Bigger? How much?) | '''Was the mobilization stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it take place? (Was it representative? Bigger? How much?)''' | ||
It was not the largest mobilization of the last few years, but it was quite large. With emphasis on the number of people gathered in the main capitals: São Paulo had almost 100 thousand, Rio de Janeiro more than 50 thousand, in the national capital (Brasília) about 20 thousand. | It was not the largest mobilization of the last few years, but it was quite large. With emphasis on the number of people gathered in the main capitals: São Paulo had almost 100 thousand, Rio de Janeiro more than 50 thousand, in the national capital (Brasília) about 20 thousand. | ||
Did it bring together rural and urban organizations? | '''Did it bring together rural and urban organizations?''' | ||
Mostly urban. However, on August 13, 2019 the March of Daisies will take place, a traditional mobilization of peasant women in Brazil. This year's march tends to be quite large as well. | Mostly urban. However, on August 13, 2019 the March of Daisies will take place, a traditional mobilization of peasant women in Brazil. This year's march tends to be quite large as well. | ||
To what extent are black women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition? | '''To what extent are black women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition?''' | ||
There are many black women's organizations that participate in the mobilization of 8M. As specific organizations they are not the majority, but the protagonism of black women in the different feminist organizations in Brazil has been growing. | There are many black women's organizations that participate in the mobilization of 8M. As specific organizations they are not the majority, but the protagonism of black women in the different feminist organizations in Brazil has been growing. | ||
To what extent are indigenous women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the coalition leadership? | '''To what extent are indigenous women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the coalition leadership?''' | ||
Mainly in the northern states of the country, indigenous women participate intensively. In the rest of the country they do not have the same protagonism. During the National Indigenous Camp in April 2019, which meets annually in the federal capital, there was an enormous assembly of indigenous women, a fact that reveals the increased participation of indigenous women in the Brazilian feminist movement. | Mainly in the northern states of the country, indigenous women participate intensively. In the rest of the country they do not have the same protagonism. During the National Indigenous Camp in April 2019, which meets annually in the federal capital, there was an enormous assembly of indigenous women, a fact that reveals the increased participation of indigenous women in the Brazilian feminist movement. | ||
''' | |||
To what extent are trans women's organizations or organizations that definitely include trans women involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the coalition leadership? | To what extent are trans women's organizations or organizations that definitely include trans women involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the coalition leadership?''' | ||
To a much lesser extent, but there are trans women ahead of some movements. | To a much lesser extent, but there are trans women ahead of some movements. | ||
To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they send only a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands? | '''To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they send only a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands?''' | ||
Peasant women participate less in the 8M calendar because they have a specific agenda in the year that is the March of the Daisies, which usually gathers tens of thousands of peasant women in the federal capital. | Peasant women participate less in the 8M calendar because they have a specific agenda in the year that is the March of the Daisies, which usually gathers tens of thousands of peasant women in the federal capital. | ||
To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement? | '''To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement?''' | ||
It is only a principle of some left-wing parties, but it was not included in the list of claims in the context of the 8M of 2019. | It is only a principle of some left-wing parties, but it was not included in the list of claims in the context of the 8M of 2019. | ||
To what extent has there been a collective balance sheet of 8M 2019? | '''To what extent has there been a collective balance sheet of 8M 2019?''' | ||
Within the organizations that built the mobilizations and through their press outlets. Among the different movements, there was none. | Within the organizations that built the mobilizations and through their press outlets. Among the different movements, there was none. | ||
To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will the Feminist Strike have a central place in the call? | '''To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will the Feminist Strike have a central place in the call?''' | ||
It hasn't started yet, but it's an established calendar in Brazil. | It hasn't started yet, but it's an established calendar in Brazil. | ||
To what extent is your political organization involved in this work? | '''To what extent is your political organization involved in this work?''' | ||
Every year, the social movement of women that we promote, Juntas, is a fundamental part of the construction of this calendar. | Every year, the social movement of women that we promote, Juntas, is a fundamental part of the construction of this calendar. | ||
''' | |||
In some countries there has been a qualitative growth and change in the women’s movement in the last few years. Is this true for you? Has this led to a discussion that there is a new feminist wave? Is there a generation gap in the movement? A focus on different issues? A different language? Different methods of struggle and organization? Does this new movement pose itself as part of a global anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial alternative? Does it have international links (and with which other countries/organisations) How does it relate to traditional working-class organisations? To other social movements?''' | |||
In recent years, a significant growth in the struggle of women has been observed in several countries, which has taken to the streets, homes, workplaces and studies, the media and the spaces of power, corroborating the hypothesis that we live a new wave of the feminist movement, which has returned to being a vital and relevant political force in the world. | |||
Since 2011, a series of episodes have been reinforcing this thesis and showing both a greater adherence to feminist ideas and a feminization of protests and social mobilizations: the Arab Spring (2010 to 2012), the Indignados of Spain (2011), the Occupy Wall Street (2011), the June mobilizations in Brazil (2013), among others. | Since 2011, a series of episodes have been reinforcing this thesis and showing both a greater adherence to feminist ideas and a feminization of protests and social mobilizations: the Arab Spring (2010 to 2012), the Indignados of Spain (2011), the Occupy Wall Street (2011), the June mobilizations in Brazil (2013), among others. | ||
Since then, major movements with a specific gender perspective have had an international projection, starting with the Slut Walk in Canada in 2011 and the massive mobilizations in India in 2012 against the collective rape of a young woman on a bus. Massive protests against the culture of rape and violence against women, and for the right to body and sexuality, have been repeated in many countries - often using social networks as a tool for their dissemination. | |||
In Latin America, in 2015, we had the Ni Una Menos movement, strengthening the fight against feminicide, as well as the fight to legalize abortion, which peaked in Argentina in 2018. Preceded by the example of Polish women, who declared a strike to protest against a bill banning abortion in the country, the struggle of Argentines was undoubtedly a turning-point in discussions and actions around this agenda throughout the world. In a country with a strong Catholic tradition (where even the current pope comes from), women have achieved, using their green handkerchiefs, the unlikely approval in the Chamber of Deputies of a bill to legalize abortion. Although it was not approved by the Senate, the mobilization of Argentine women had a profound impact on public opinion on the issue, influencing the world feminist movement. | In Latin America, in 2015, we had the Ni Una Menos movement, strengthening the fight against feminicide, as well as the fight to legalize abortion, which peaked in Argentina in 2018. Preceded by the example of Polish women, who declared a strike to protest against a bill banning abortion in the country, the struggle of Argentines was undoubtedly a turning-point in discussions and actions around this agenda throughout the world. In a country with a strong Catholic tradition (where even the current pope comes from), women have achieved, using their green handkerchiefs, the unlikely approval in the Chamber of Deputies of a bill to legalize abortion. Although it was not approved by the Senate, the mobilization of Argentine women had a profound impact on public opinion on the issue, influencing the world feminist movement. | ||
In the United States, in 2016, the election of Donald Trump, known for his numerous misogynistic and racist statements, was the trigger for the call for the Women's March, a movement that brought together more than one million women in Washington in the presidential inauguration on January 20, 2017, as well as in numerous other cities in the US and even in other countries. The U.S. elections two years later reflected this new rise, through the conquest of seats in the legislature by many democratic socialist women, especially young, Latino, and black women, like Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez. | In the United States, in 2016, the election of Donald Trump, known for his numerous misogynistic and racist statements, was the trigger for the call for the Women's March, a movement that brought together more than one million women in Washington in the presidential inauguration on January 20, 2017, as well as in numerous other cities in the US and even in other countries. The U.S. elections two years later reflected this new rise, through the conquest of seats in the legislature by many democratic socialist women, especially young, Latino, and black women, like Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez. | ||
This accumulated indignation erupted in the acts of March 8, 2018, when an International Women's Strike was called with the slogan "If our lives do not matter, produce without us". This year, once again, millions of women made the protests of March 8 overflow: Spain, Chile and even the Philippines had a crowd of women on the streets on the International Women's Day. In addition, they also have been prominent as a political vanguard in a new stage of the African Arab revolutions, which are currently affecting Algeria and Sudan. Despite the differences with Egypt and Tunisia, and even between them, these two countries faced decades of autocratic regimes, which led to great popular dissatisfaction, resulting in the emergence of a strong mobilization against the "system" - the slogan of the streets. For these women, however, it is not enough to gain partial participation: faced with the opportunity to achieve more political participation, they began to claim the consolidation of their rights. | This accumulated indignation erupted in the acts of March 8, 2018, when an International Women's Strike was called with the slogan "If our lives do not matter, produce without us". This year, once again, millions of women made the protests of March 8 overflow: Spain, Chile and even the Philippines had a crowd of women on the streets on the International Women's Day. In addition, they also have been prominent as a political vanguard in a new stage of the African Arab revolutions, which are currently affecting Algeria and Sudan. Despite the differences with Egypt and Tunisia, and even between them, these two countries faced decades of autocratic regimes, which led to great popular dissatisfaction, resulting in the emergence of a strong mobilization against the "system" - the slogan of the streets. For these women, however, it is not enough to gain partial participation: faced with the opportunity to achieve more political participation, they began to claim the consolidation of their rights. | ||
In Algeria, as well as failing to recognise the facade elections of the old regime, women have included in their demands the fight against the laws that subjugate them to men. In Sudan, they demand the fall of the military government, but also the recognition of their leadership role - founded on a long tradition of women of the popular classes - in the revolt that began with the tripling of the price of bread in April of this year, in the midst of a serious economic crisis. | In Algeria, as well as failing to recognise the facade elections of the old regime, women have included in their demands the fight against the laws that subjugate them to men. In Sudan, they demand the fall of the military government, but also the recognition of their leadership role - founded on a long tradition of women of the popular classes - in the revolt that began with the tripling of the price of bread in April of this year, in the midst of a serious economic crisis. | ||
In Brazil, the Feminist Spring of 2015 was a milestone for the affirmation of the new stage of feminism in the country, with the proposal of the then House President, Eduardo Cunha, to restrict access to emergency contraceptives as its starting point. It was the struggle of brazilian women for sexual and reproductive rights, outside the more traditional feminist organizations linked to the PT government, the most forceful voice against the hated and powerful political articulator of the 2015 impeachment, which today is imprisoned with the support of much of the population. | In Brazil, the Feminist Spring of 2015 was a milestone for the affirmation of the new stage of feminism in the country, with the proposal of the then House President, Eduardo Cunha, to restrict access to emergency contraceptives as its starting point. It was the struggle of brazilian women for sexual and reproductive rights, outside the more traditional feminist organizations linked to the PT government, the most forceful voice against the hated and powerful political articulator of the 2015 impeachment, which today is imprisoned with the support of much of the population. | ||
Still in 2015, Brasília was the stage for the largest March of Black Women in the history of the country, also reinforcing the beginning of this new wave of feminist mobilizations around here. Since then, adolescent girls (12, 13 or older) have had feminism as their own motto, present in their daily lives. According to a survey conducted by DataFolha, among those known as millenials, 65% identify themselves as feminists. The latest processes of women's struggle in Brazil, however, demonstrate that it is not only young women who have taken for themselves the construction of feminism, but that there is a diversity of profiles that believe in women's strength as a way to achieve better living conditions. The search for equality between genders, the rejection of the condition of subjugation of women and various subjects of national and local politics are issues that have become a concern to a much larger number of women. | Still in 2015, Brasília was the stage for the largest March of Black Women in the history of the country, also reinforcing the beginning of this new wave of feminist mobilizations around here. Since then, adolescent girls (12, 13 or older) have had feminism as their own motto, present in their daily lives. According to a survey conducted by DataFolha, among those known as millenials, 65% identify themselves as feminists. The latest processes of women's struggle in Brazil, however, demonstrate that it is not only young women who have taken for themselves the construction of feminism, but that there is a diversity of profiles that believe in women's strength as a way to achieve better living conditions. The search for equality between genders, the rejection of the condition of subjugation of women and various subjects of national and local politics are issues that have become a concern to a much larger number of women. | ||
This feminist wave, therefore, has reached all spheres of everyday life and, fortunately, has also sown fruit in the homes of power, since women's discontent with the political caste that governs our country is flagrant.During the elections in 2018, hundreds of thousands of women led a gigantic demonstration against Bolsonaro, in the #NotHim mobilization. At that time, they already demonstrated that the reactionary policy evidenced in the public appearances and the government program of candidate would be even more harmful to women. | This feminist wave, therefore, has reached all spheres of everyday life and, fortunately, has also sown fruit in the homes of power, since women's discontent with the political caste that governs our country is flagrant.During the elections in 2018, hundreds of thousands of women led a gigantic demonstration against Bolsonaro, in the #NotHim mobilization. At that time, they already demonstrated that the reactionary policy evidenced in the public appearances and the government program of candidate would be even more harmful to women. | ||
Fortunately, despite Bolsonaro's election, the number of women elected to the Legislative Houses has more than doubled compared to the previous legislature. In such a worrying scenario, it is extraordinary that the struggle of women has been strengthened: PSOL, for example, has elected a parity deputies bench, which now includes Sâmia Bomfim (SP), Luiza Erundina (SP), Fernanda Melchionna (RS), Talíria Petrone (RJ) and Áurea Carolina (MG). In the states, many women also occupied the Legislative Chambers, especially Luciana Genro (RS) and Mônica Seixas of Bancada Ativista (SP), besides many others, such as the three black women elected to the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro - Renata Souza, Mônica Francisco and Dani Monteiro, all collaborators of Marielle Franco's mandate - and also Erika Malunguinho, the first trans representative in São Paulo. | Fortunately, despite Bolsonaro's election, the number of women elected to the Legislative Houses has more than doubled compared to the previous legislature. In such a worrying scenario, it is extraordinary that the struggle of women has been strengthened: PSOL, for example, has elected a parity deputies bench, which now includes Sâmia Bomfim (SP), Luiza Erundina (SP), Fernanda Melchionna (RS), Talíria Petrone (RJ) and Áurea Carolina (MG). In the states, many women also occupied the Legislative Chambers, especially Luciana Genro (RS) and Mônica Seixas of Bancada Ativista (SP), besides many others, such as the three black women elected to the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro - Renata Souza, Mônica Francisco and Dani Monteiro, all collaborators of Marielle Franco's mandate - and also Erika Malunguinho, the first trans representative in São Paulo. | ||
In light of this, we believe that the possibility of defeating the extreme right necessarily involves strengthening the struggle of women, something that has been expressed not only in Brazil, but throughout the world. In this sense, we agree with the anthropologist Rosana Pinheiro-Machado's statement that "the extreme right won, but so did the feminists,", because reactionism has risen to power, but feminism has also been strengthened. This, however, does not mean that we can underestimate the strength of our adversary, but that the construction of a broad democratic resistance will only be possible if we can identify and catalyze the enormous transformative energy already gathered by the struggle of women so far. | In light of this, we believe that the possibility of defeating the extreme right necessarily involves strengthening the struggle of women, something that has been expressed not only in Brazil, but throughout the world. In this sense, we agree with the anthropologist Rosana Pinheiro-Machado's statement that "the extreme right won, but so did the feminists,", because reactionism has risen to power, but feminism has also been strengthened. This, however, does not mean that we can underestimate the strength of our adversary, but that the construction of a broad democratic resistance will only be possible if we can identify and catalyze the enormous transformative energy already gathered by the struggle of women so far. | ||
Organisation OKDE TPT | '''Organisation OKDE TPT | ||
Country: Greece | Country: Greece''' | ||
Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition? | '''Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition?''' | ||
Yes it did. The call was issued by women’s organisations and some unions mainly in the public sector under the pressure of leftists unionists. But there was no actual involvement of unions. There is no national coalition, but there are either political or informal networks between activists nationwide. The movement is at the same time decentralised and dependant on the various left / anarchist coalitions and networks. | Yes it did. The call was issued by women’s organisations and some unions mainly in the public sector under the pressure of leftists unionists. But there was no actual involvement of unions. There is no national coalition, but there are either political or informal networks between activists nationwide. The movement is at the same time decentralised and dependant on the various left / anarchist coalitions and networks. | ||
Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members? | '''Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members?''' | ||
There was a call for an afternoon warning strike and for participation in the evening demo, but there was no real engagement and discussion. | There was a call for an afternoon warning strike and for participation in the evening demo, but there was no real engagement and discussion. | ||
What were the demands of the mobilization? Was there a manifesto? | '''What were the demands of the mobilization? Was there a manifesto?''' | ||
There were separate calls in different cities. In Athens the call focused on a variety of topics, from everyday sexism to labour rights, welfare and the effects of austerity. In recent years, one of the main axes for mobilisation in Greece has been gender violence, so this was also prominent. | There were separate calls in different cities. In Athens the call focused on a variety of topics, from everyday sexism to labour rights, welfare and the effects of austerity. In recent years, one of the main axes for mobilisation in Greece has been gender violence, so this was also prominent. | ||
Was the mobilization stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it take place? (Was it representative? Bigger? How much?) | '''Was the mobilization stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it take place? (Was it representative? Bigger? How much?)''' | ||
Every year it has been growing. There were calls in at least 3 big cities. The new element is that it now attracts the left, which was previously treating feminist claims as secondary and unimportant. Unfortunately, feminists seem unable to overcome the fragmentation and the sense of defeat that is widespread in the movement or to reach broader audiences. The limits are becoming clear. | Every year it has been growing. There were calls in at least 3 big cities. The new element is that it now attracts the left, which was previously treating feminist claims as secondary and unimportant. Unfortunately, feminists seem unable to overcome the fragmentation and the sense of defeat that is widespread in the movement or to reach broader audiences. The limits are becoming clear. | ||
Did it bring together rural and urban organizations? | '''Did it bring together rural and urban organizations?''' | ||
This is not relevant in Greece. | This is not relevant in Greece. | ||
To what extent are black women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition? | '''To what extent are black women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition?''' | ||
In Greece the question has been how to involve migrants, who are often undocumented and therefore hard to involve, and the refugees. There are some migrant women associations that are very active and have been part of feminist mobilisations for some time now, but due to the vulnerability of this population, further involvement is hard to achieve. | In Greece the question has been how to involve migrants, who are often undocumented and therefore hard to involve, and the refugees. There are some migrant women associations that are very active and have been part of feminist mobilisations for some time now, but due to the vulnerability of this population, further involvement is hard to achieve. | ||
To what extent are indigenous women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the coalition leadership? | '''To what extent are indigenous women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the coalition leadership?''' | ||
It’s not relevant in Greece. | It’s not relevant in Greece. | ||
''' | |||
To what extent are trans women's organizations or organizations that definitely include trans women involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the coalition leadership? | To what extent are trans women's organizations or organizations that definitely include trans women involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the coalition leadership?''' | ||
There is not really a coalition leadership and all meetings are open and public. | There is not really a coalition leadership and all meetings are open and public. | ||
The largest union of trans women in Greece has been very active and known within feminist networks for some time now. But they generally follow their own path in activism. This year many smaller lgbt, gender, queer etc. groups participated in the mobilisations. Their involvement increased significantly after the brutal murder of a well-known gay activist last September in downtown Athens. | The largest union of trans women in Greece has been very active and known within feminist networks for some time now. But they generally follow their own path in activism. This year many smaller lgbt, gender, queer etc. groups participated in the mobilisations. Their involvement increased significantly after the brutal murder of a well-known gay activist last September in downtown Athens. | ||
To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they send only a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands? | '''To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they send only a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands?''' | ||
This is not relevant in Greece. | This is not relevant in Greece. | ||
To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement? | '''To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement?''' | ||
It was not part of the demands, but in general the feminist movement has supported solidarity calls to Palestine. | It was not part of the demands, but in general the feminist movement has supported solidarity calls to Palestine. | ||
To what extent has there been a collective balance sheet of 8M 2019? | '''To what extent has there been a collective balance sheet of 8M 2019?''' | ||
In Athens there was a proclamation afterwards that the demonstration was successful. There were also calls for the 1st May and for the Pride in June. | In Athens there was a proclamation afterwards that the demonstration was successful. There were also calls for the 1st May and for the Pride in June. | ||
To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will the Feminist Strike have a central place in the call? | '''To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will the Feminist Strike have a central place in the call?''' | ||
Considering the state of the Greek left and movements as well as the fact that there are general elections and the right wing will most probably win, this is too far in the future to tell. But we are positive. | Considering the state of the Greek left and movements as well as the fact that there are general elections and the right wing will most probably win, this is too far in the future to tell. But we are positive. | ||
To what extent is your political organization involved in this work? | '''To what extent is your political organization involved in this work?''' | ||
There have always been comrades actively involved, but the organisation in general underestimates the topic, so the work is carried out individually. | There have always been comrades actively involved, but the organisation in general underestimates the topic, so the work is carried out individually. | ||
In some countries there has been a qualitative growth and change in the women’s movement in the last few years. Is this true for you? Has this led to a discussion that there is a new feminist wave? Is there a generation gap in the movement? A focus on different issues? A different language? Different methods of struggle and organization? Does this new movement pose itself as part of a global anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial alternative? Does it have international links (and with which other countries/organisations) How does it relate to traditional working-class organisations? To other social movements? | In some countries there has been a qualitative growth and change in the women’s movement in the last few years. Is this true for you? Has this led to a discussion that there is a new feminist wave? Is there a generation gap in the movement? A focus on different issues? A different language? Different methods of struggle and organization? Does this new movement pose itself as part of a global anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial alternative? Does it have international links (and with which other countries/organisations) How does it relate to traditional working-class organisations? To other social movements? | ||
In Greece, a country with a weak feminist tradition and a huge generation gap, nation-wide feminist groups and networks have been gradually emerging in recent years. Although they seem to lack the strength and media attention that feminist movements have gained elsewhere, their appearance comes at a period of a generalized sense of defeat and regrouping among the Left- including strong sectarian tendencies. The main focus of the new feminist movement in Greece has been, similarly to many of its counterparts across the globe, the pressing issue of gender violence. Nevertheless, the multiple forms of gender violence are linked not only to structural oppression in abstract, but also to the specific forms this takes under the antidemocratic project of austerity and the implications of the crisis. | In Greece, a country with a weak feminist tradition and a huge generation gap, nation-wide feminist groups and networks have been gradually emerging in recent years. Although they seem to lack the strength and media attention that feminist movements have gained elsewhere, their appearance comes at a period of a generalized sense of defeat and regrouping among the Left- including strong sectarian tendencies. The main focus of the new feminist movement in Greece has been, similarly to many of its counterparts across the globe, the pressing issue of gender violence. Nevertheless, the multiple forms of gender violence are linked not only to structural oppression in abstract, but also to the specific forms this takes under the antidemocratic project of austerity and the implications of the crisis. | ||
Due to the strong left tradition, feminism in Greece has developed in relation to the political left and therefore it has always identified the relations between class, gender and other forms of oppression and it always tried to articulate demands from the perspective of the oppressed / exploited majority. | Due to the strong left tradition, feminism in Greece has developed in relation to the political left and therefore it has always identified the relations between class, gender and other forms of oppression and it always tried to articulate demands from the perspective of the oppressed / exploited majority. | ||
Antiracism, solidarity to lgbt struggles and working-class struggles have been part of the agenda of Greek feminism and still are. | Antiracism, solidarity to lgbt struggles and working-class struggles have been part of the agenda of Greek feminism and still are. | ||
More recent developments include the involvement of younger generations of women. They bring along new influences, discussions and language, but these are often learned through the Anglophone internet and academic feminism. Also, younger women are largely suspicious of the left, its organisations and its (usually male leaders), as they have been politicised in a conjuncture in which the left was in Government, implementing the austerity. On the one hand this invokes healthy reflexes, but on the other hand it echoes the disconnection from a long tradition of activism and radicalisation but with no new replacement. So far this (re)produces splits and fragmentation within the feminists, who don’t have the experience or the tools to handle different opinions and disagreements. | More recent developments include the involvement of younger generations of women. They bring along new influences, discussions and language, but these are often learned through the Anglophone internet and academic feminism. Also, younger women are largely suspicious of the left, its organisations and its (usually male leaders), as they have been politicised in a conjuncture in which the left was in Government, implementing the austerity. On the one hand this invokes healthy reflexes, but on the other hand it echoes the disconnection from a long tradition of activism and radicalisation but with no new replacement. So far this (re)produces splits and fragmentation within the feminists, who don’t have the experience or the tools to handle different opinions and disagreements. | ||
Organisation | '''Organisation | ||
Internationale Sozialistische Organisation (ISO) | Internationale Sozialistische Organisation (ISO) | ||
Country | Country | ||
Germany | Germany''' | ||
Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition? | '''Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition?''' | ||
There is a national coalition calling for the women’s strike and a nationwide mobilisation. Around the 8th of March regional massive demonstrations and imaginative actions took place. | There is a national coalition calling for the women’s strike and a nationwide mobilisation. Around the 8th of March regional massive demonstrations and imaginative actions took place. | ||
Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members? | '''Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members?''' | ||
There was occasional support from trade unionists, mainly from Ver.di, but no organizational support. Trade union organizations did not call for a women's strike, but they welcomed the mobilisations of women. Women’s strike was considered a political strike, which is not allowed in Germany. | There was occasional support from trade unionists, mainly from Ver.di, but no organizational support. Trade union organizations did not call for a women's strike, but they welcomed the mobilisations of women. Women’s strike was considered a political strike, which is not allowed in Germany. | ||
| Line 681: | Line 701: | ||
More here: https://umsganze.org/feminsm-classwar-frauenstreik/ and here: https://frauenstreik.org/ | More here: https://umsganze.org/feminsm-classwar-frauenstreik/ and here: https://frauenstreik.org/ | ||
Was the mobilization stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it take place? (Was it representative? Bigger? How much?) | '''Was the mobilization stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it take place? (Was it representative? Bigger? How much?)''' | ||
Yes, there were mobilisations is 80 cities across the country. | Yes, there were mobilisations is 80 cities across the country. | ||
Did it bring together rural and urban organizations? | '''Did it bring together rural and urban organizations?''' | ||
This has not been achieved yet. | This has not been achieved yet. | ||
To what extent are black women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition? | '''To what extent are black women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition?''' | ||
There was a commitment to anti-racism, but non-white women did not have a leading role. This is also because there are only a few non-white women in Germany who are somehow politically active or organized. | There was a commitment to anti-racism, but non-white women did not have a leading role. This is also because there are only a few non-white women in Germany who are somehow politically active or organized. | ||
To what extent are indigenous women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the coalition leadership? | '''To what extent are indigenous women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the coalition leadership?''' | ||
This is not important in Germany | This is not important in Germany | ||
''' | |||
To what extent are trans women's organizations or organizations that definitely include trans women involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the coalition leadership? | To what extent are trans women's organizations or organizations that definitely include trans women involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the coalition leadership?''' | ||
Trans-women were involved and brought along their particular issues. | Trans-women were involved and brought along their particular issues. | ||
To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they send only a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands? | '''To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they send only a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands?''' | ||
This is not important in Germany. | This is not important in Germany. | ||
To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement? | '''To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement?''' | ||
The topic was not present. | The topic was not present. | ||
To what extent has there been a collective balance sheet of 8M 2019? | '''To what extent has there been a collective balance sheet of 8M 2019?''' | ||
The mobilization met the expectations and the idea of the women's strike is now better known than before. | The mobilization met the expectations and the idea of the women's strike is now better known than before. | ||
To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will the Feminist Strike have a central place in the call? | '''To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will the Feminist Strike have a central place in the call?''' | ||
There will most probably be a coalition call again. The first meeting will be in September in Essen. | There will most probably be a coalition call again. The first meeting will be in September in Essen. | ||
To what extent is your political organization involved in this work? | '''To what extent is your political organization involved in this work?''' | ||
Due to the so far low involvement of the organisation in feminist struggles, only few comrades are involved and individually. We hope that the seminar in Amsterdam will assist in engaging the organisation more actively from now on. | Due to the so far low involvement of the organisation in feminist struggles, only few comrades are involved and individually. We hope that the seminar in Amsterdam will assist in engaging the organisation more actively from now on. | ||
''' | |||
In some countries there has been a qualitative growth and change in the women’s movement in the last few years. Is this true for you? Has this led to a discussion that there is a new feminist wave? Is there a generation gap in the movement? A focus on different issues? A different language? Different methods of struggle and organization? Does this new movement pose itself as part of a global anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial alternative? Does it have international links (and with which other countries/organisations) How does it relate to traditional working-class organisations? To other social movements?''' | |||
As in many other countries, an increased involvement is observed also in Germany, which includes a lot of younger women. The topics range from anti-sexism to the gender pay-gap, the inequality in employment and the distribution of care work. But it is still early to tell whether this tendency will continue. | |||
'''Organization: Sosyalist Demokrasi İçin Yeniyol (New Course for Socialist Democracy) | |||
Country: Turkey''' | |||
'''Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition?''' | |||
No. But there were demonstrations in several cities. | |||
'''Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members? | |||
Few of the leftist trade unions sent representatives. Historically trade unions in Turkey have been quite male dominated and their relationship with the women’s movement have been distant.''' | |||
'''What were the demands of the mobilization? Was there a manifesto?''' | |||
End to violence against women and children, end to dictatorship, peace, recognition of LGBTI+ rights, end to conservative gender politics and oppression on women | |||
'''Was the mobilization stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it take place? (Was it representative? Bigger? How much?)''' | |||
It is not possible to compare with the last year as police intervened and did not let the women to hold track of the movement. Yet, in general, it is safe to say that more women participated, posted shares on social media and became aware of the mobilization. | |||
'''Did it bring together rural and urban organizations?''' | |||
No. The mobilization included only urban organizations. | |||
'''To what extent are black women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition?''' | |||
There is no black women’s organization in Turkey. | |||
''' | |||
To what extent are indigenous women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the coalition leadership? | |||
There is no indigenous women's organization in Turkey''' | |||
''' | |||
To what extent are trans women's organizations or organizations that definitely include trans women involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the coalition leadership?''' | |||
There are few trans women’s organization in Turkey (Pembe Hayat, Trans Blok, Trans Danışma Derneği); trans women are also organized in other LGBTI+ organizations and they are the part of the women’s movement; but their representation is quite weak in women’s organizations and 8 March demonstrations, although it is getting stronger. Their main demands are end to violence and discrimination against trans women. Trans killings are also a big issue in Turkey, and it becomes a bigger issue since trans women are highly discriminated in the labour market and mostly do sex work which is one of the most unsecure jobs for women. Trans movement demands the recognition of hate crimes as political (there are some laws that are supposed to protect all women; however, the concept of hate crime is extremely unclear in the laws and most of the time implementation of these laws are in the hands of extremely conservative judges). Another important issue is the recognition of equality based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the Constitution. | |||
'''To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they send only a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands?''' | |||
They do not participate at all. | |||
'''To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement?''' | |||
Solidarity with Palestine has never been a demand of women’s movement. | |||
'''To what extent has there been a collective balance sheet of 8M 2019?''' | |||
Not a significant extent. There have been some meetings to evaluate the current situation and 8M mobilizations, however it does not seem possible to say that a comprehensive and collective balance sheet was put forward. | |||
'''To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will the Feminist Strike have a central place in the call?''' | |||
To a negligible extent. It seems like the Feminist Strike will be on the agenda of 8M 2020, but it’s not possible to assess to what extent it will have a central place from this day. | |||
'''To what extent is your political organization involved in this work?''' | |||
Our Women Coordination actively participated in the preparations for 2018 and 2019 and also participated in the Feminist Strike to a larger extent. | |||
''' | |||
In some countries there has been a qualitative growth and change in the women’s movement in the last few years. Is this true for you? Has this led to a discussion that there is a new feminist wave? Is there a generation gap in the movement? A focus on different issues? A different language? Different methods of struggle and organization? Does this new movement pose itself as part of a global anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial alternative? Does it have international links (and with which other countries/organisations) How does it relate to traditional working-class organisations? To other social movements?''' | |||
It is true for Turkey as well. Women have been in the forefront of almost every movement occurred in recent years. In addition, feminist movement have become significantly powerful movement compared to other movements, attracting women from all age groups (But mostly younger generation). Feminist issues have been mainstreamed among socialist organizations. But this does not led to a discussion on the new feminist wave. This is partly because women are still fighting for the very fundamental rights and freedoms like right to live and freedom of divorce. And most of the time we, our feminist principles, our very rights and discourses are under attack on a daily basis; this leads women’s movement to be on a state of emergency all the time, in a way that sucks the energy and will of the movement and traps it in a state of being non-stop alert. This does not only create less and less space for such discussions, but also (to some extent) set limitations for the movement in terms of being part of an international anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial wave, restraining it in the local agenda arising from the attacks mentioned above. So, in terms of qualitative growth, developing new strategies, the general picture does not seem pleasant enough. | |||
It can be said that a very important part of the women’s movement has also an anti-capitalist character; and women, and mostly feminist women are in the forefront of ecologist movement as well. But as stated above, most of the traditional working-class organizations are highly male-dominated in Turkey; although gender mainstreaming has recently been a part of their agenda to some extent. | |||
== Responses to the Questionaire on Party - English only == | |||
Brazil Comuna, Germany, Pakistan, Philippines, Denmark, Brazil MES, Brazil Subverta, Turkey, Britain, Portugal | |||
'''Organization: | |||
COMUNA - Brazilian Section of the IV International. | |||
PSOL - Partido Socialismo e Liberdade (Socialism and Freedom Party). | |||
Brazil''' | |||
Presentation: | |||
COMUNA is constituted by militants of the Socialism and Freedom Party (PSOL) that, as revolutionary marxists, have as their central objective the overcoming of capitalism by way of revolutionary movement and the construction of an eco-socialist and libertarian society - understood as part of the construction of human emancipation, the communist society. | |||
We are an organization of women and men, workers, youth, LGBTIQ +, black people, eco-socialists, feminists, internationalists, anti-prohibitionists, abolitionists, militants of the Fourth International and of the Socialism and Freedom Party (PSOL). | |||
The selection of March 8 of 2017 for the presentation of our Founding Manifesto was not random: the struggle of women all over the world inspires us to dispute the course of history, to refuse to accept and to fight always, in collective. | |||
In recent years, we have witnessed an upsurge in women's struggles, whether for their rights, | |||
or the rights of broad sectors of the population; the mobilizing action of peasants, indigenous peoples and quilombolas in the defence of their territories became essential in the struggle for well-being; the great movements for the legalization of abortion have taken Latin America along with the uprisings against authoritarian and conservative regimes. COMUNA is committed to building the PSOL as a broad and democratic anti-capitalist and socialist party, together with other sectors, capable of contributing to the process of recomposition of the Brazilian and international left, to strengthen the struggle and organization of the working class and the oppressed, for the overcoming of capitalism on a world scale. For this, feminism is strategic and not conjunctural. | |||
PSOL: http://psol50.org.br/ | |||
COMUNA: https://www.comunapsol.org/ | |||
'''1. In your statutes and /or resolution on functioning is there any mention of special measures to promote women’s participation e.g. | |||
- quotas or parity in leadership bodies''' | |||
The PSOL has a resolution that establishes the gender parity since 2013, and COMUNA establishes gender parity as a policy in its statute; the National Coordination of COMUNA has parity between men and women, and expresses the plurality of the organization: ethnic-racial, generational, regional, fronts of action and militant profile (trade unionists, militants of social movements, intellectuals, among others). | |||
- organization of speaking lists | |||
There are no lists of speakers promoting gender alternation in PSOL and COMUNA. | |||
- internal women-only meetings | |||
Women are self-organized in the PSOL through a national sector, with state and local operations.The same thing happens in COMUNA. | |||
- others | |||
The PSOL is the only party of the Chamber of Deputies with gender parity on its representation: five men and five women; the PSOL Parliamentarians presented a project called “Marielle Franco”, to ensure gender parity in parliaments; the national direction of PSOL is composed of 61 members, 18 of which are members of the Executive (elected in the 6th Congress of PSOL); the PSOL is one of the few parties in Brazil with gender parity (since 2013) and quota of 30% of blacks (since 2015) in all decision-making bodies, fruit of the great struggle of the party sector over the years; COMUNA participates in the PSOL with two female comrades, for one year the General Secretariat of the party was occupied by Tarzia Medeiros; now she and Ana Carolina de Andrade are members of the national directory. | |||
'''2. Are these practised at:''' | |||
- national leadership level? Yes | |||
- local branch/committee level? Yes | |||
'''3. Childcare - is this organized for:''' | |||
- national internal party events (leadership meetings, conferences etc) - Yes. | |||
- major public events? Rarely. | |||
- local party meetings? Rarely. | |||
- Is it organized every time or only on request? On request. | |||
'''4. Sexism/sexual harassment and violence within the party:''' | |||
- Is this mentioned in your statutes/resolution on functioning?? | |||
The statute of COMUNA establishes that: any militant who does not comply with the obligations set out in its Statute and which has a position incompatible with the program and the values of the organization, may suffer the following sanctions: private warning, public warning, suspension and terminations. Allegations of infringement of the discipline, the programmatic profile and / or socialist values of the organization must be sent to the National Ethics and Disciplinary Commission on a confidential and written basis. Denunciations involving lgbtphobia situations, machism and / or racism must rely on the consent of the victim (s). | |||
- is there a specified procedure to deal with such cases? | |||
In COMUNA, complaints involving lgbtphobia, machism and / or racism must rely on the consent of the victim (s). | |||
It is important to mention that the PSOL Ethics Committee is active and informed in its first plenary meeting in 2019 that 75% of their cases regard machism, harassment and violence against women. | |||
- '''Is there a specific body to deal with it, is it:''' | |||
In COMUNA and in PSOL is the Ethics Commission that is in charge of the treatment | |||
these cases. | |||
- party control/disciplinary commission- Yes. | |||
- gender violence commission – No. | |||
- special commission constituted for each case: | |||
The current National Commission of Ethics of the PSOL consists of 7 people, being 4 women. Even so, the most recent resolutions of the PSOL determine that the National Commission of Women must indicate a member to accompany the development of processes that involve denunciations of machism, harassment and / or other violence against women. | |||
'''5. Women’s work (activity in feminist movement and on feminist themes): | |||
- is there a specific body to organise this?''' | |||
In PSOL, there is a National Commission of Women that organizes the national sector formed | |||
by grassroots militants. | |||
In the Comuna there is a national sector of women. | |||
- is it elected, who by? | |||
The National Commission of Women of PSOL is formed by all political currents organized in the party. At PSOL, currently, Tarzia Medeiros represents COMUNA in this commission; and, Ana Carolina Andrade is part of the national communication committee of the women’s sector. | |||
At COMUNA we do not have a women's board or committee; all the companions of the COMUNA participate in the process of organizing intervention in the movement and / or party. | |||
- do all women on the leadership participate? | |||
A significant number of the women of COMUNA act as leaders in women and feminist movements (in addition to mixed movements) and/or are party leaders (local, regional and national levels). Many women organized in the national sector of the PSOL also act as leaders in social movements (mixed and specific) and also in the party. | |||
- do you have a specific publication | |||
The women of the PSOL do not have an specific printed publication such as a newspaper or magazine on a regular basis. However, the national sector publishes leaflets and other materials for national campaigns (March 8, against violence, justice for Marielle Franco, etc.). The national sector of women maintains regular publications on social networks to agitation and party propaganda based on the specific action of women (sectoral and parliamentarians). COMUNA has published (printed) some booklets for general and feminist formation. | |||
'''Organization Internationale Sozialistische Organisation (ISO) | |||
Country Germany | |||
1. In your statutes and /or resolution on functioning is there any mention of special measures to promote women’s participation e.g. | |||
- quotas or parity in leadership bodies,''' | |||
There is some consciousness about the need to have a 50 % quota for women. However there has been no agreement on the wording of a paragraph on “women in the ISO” at the founding conference or in the commission which had prepared the draft. So there is a gap in the statutes which should be filled at the next federal conference in November 2019. | |||
- organization of speaking lists | |||
Yes. But there is only one woman in the central leadership body called “Koordination”, with 16 persons since the last national conference in June 2018. It is the same with the “Sekretariat” (1 female member, 5 male members). So most of the time she does not make use of this point. During the national conferences or seminaries it is very usual however to have a separate list for women, who are given priority | |||
- internal women-only meetings | |||
There have been two meetings of this type: one extraordinary during a national conference (June 2017) and a meeting to which all members in the organization were invited (November 2017) | |||
- others | |||
No. | |||
'''2. Are these practised at:''' | |||
- national leadership level? | |||
See above. | |||
- local branch/committee level? | |||
Rather not. | |||
'''3. Childcare - is this organized for:''' | |||
- national internal party events (leadership meetings, conferences etc.) | |||
No more. | |||
- major public events? | |||
Not regularly. | |||
- local party meetings? | |||
As far as we know: no. | |||
- Is it organized every time or only on request? | |||
Sometimes on request. | |||
'''4. Sexism/sexual harassment and violence within the party''' | |||
- Is this mentioned in your statutes/resolution on functioning?? | |||
No. | |||
- is there a specified procedure to deal with such cases? | |||
No. | |||
- Is there a specific body to deal with it, is it: | |||
- party control/disciplinary commission | |||
Yes. The ISO has a so-called “Beschwerdekommission” (Appeals commission) whose tasks are described in the tasks. | |||
- gender violence commission | |||
No. | |||
- special commission constituted for each case | |||
No. | |||
'''5. Women’s work (activity in feminist movement and on feminist themes)''' | |||
- is there a specific body to organise this? | |||
No. Unfortunately there is no continuity in “women’s work” nor a coordinated work. | |||
- is it elected, who by? | |||
- | |||
- do all women on the leadership participate? | |||
- | |||
- do you have a specific publication | |||
No. | |||
Additional remarks | |||
The percentage of women in the membership is 19 % (and even less on the national leadership level, a bit higher in the editorial board of the monthly paper “Sozialistische Zeitung”, whereas the editorial board of the bi-monthly magazine “die internationale” is completely male). | |||
Again and again there is a lot of talk about the fact that the group is: overaged, has much too few women, much too few young and younger members, is too white. And it is not growing (neither declining in a significant way: the membership figures are stable). It is not easy to find a solution or even to do more than discuss the problems… | |||
di./wi. | |||
'''Organization: Jammu Kashmir Awami Workers Party | |||
Country: Azad Kashmir, Pakistan''' | |||
'''1. In your statutes and /or resolution on functioning is there any mention of special measures to promote women’s participation e.g. | |||
- quotas or parity in leadership bodies,''' ....... Parity in leadership bodies but due to lack of women participation, male get increased | |||
- organization of speaking lists.....yes | |||
- internal women-only meetings....yes | |||
- others | |||
'''2. Are these practised at:''' | |||
- national leadership level...... yes | |||
- local branch/committee leve...... yes | |||
'''3. Childcare - is this organized for:''' not yet | |||
- national internal party events (leadership meetings, conferences etc) | |||
- major public events? | |||
- local party meetings? | |||
- Is it organized every time or only on request? | |||
'''4. Sexism/sexual harassment and violence within the party''' | |||
- Is this mentioned in your statutes/resolution on functioning??.....Not yet | |||
- is there a specified procedure to deal with such cases?......Not yet | |||
- Is there a specific body to deal with it, is it: | |||
- party control/disciplinary commission. | |||
- gender violence commission | |||
- special commission constituted for each case ......yes | |||
'''5. Women’s work (activity in feminist movement and on feminist themes)''' | |||
- is there a specific body to organise this?.... | |||
Not yet independent body in Kashmir but we contribute in alliance with Women Democratic Front (Pakistan based women organization) | |||
- is it elected, who by? | |||
- do all women on the leadership participate?....No | |||
- do you have a specific publication....No | |||
'''Organization RPM-M | |||
Country PHILIPPINES | |||
1. In your statutes and /or resolution on functioning is there any mention of special measures to promote women’s participation e.g. | |||
- quotas or parity in leadership bodies, | |||
- organization of speaking lists = | |||
- internal women-only meetings = | |||
- others''' | |||
In the Party Constitution, participation of women is highly mentioned from the National leadership down to the party units. It commands the observance of balance participation of men and women in all political activities and organizational party functioning. We do not have quotas but always thrive for maximum 50-50 participation of men and women. In the national leadership body (CC), 1/3 are women commission members! Women participation in the party affairs is not yet been perceived as a big question by the membersbecause we have so many women members taking on important positions in the regional leadership bodies (RCs) and as heads in some of the different lines of works, except in the army organization. But even then, it is always an ongoing campaign within the women commission to help develop the women’s work of the army in the communities it operates.In our recent discussion in the women commission, we came up with a concept of rotational red-area immersion program for us to answer this call collectively because until now, this is a real and perennial challenge! | |||
Our Women Commission is installed and functions at the national level, while at the regional leadership, apart from being headed by women, there are women commission representatives within the regional leadership bodies. There are also women commission representatives of the tribes/IPs, Bangsamoro and Migrant Settlers communities. | |||
'''2. Are these practised at: | |||
- national leadership level? | |||
- local branch/committee level?; significant''' # of women sa leadership sa mga local | |||
branches/committees; defense | |||
- as discussed above - | |||
''' | |||
3. Childcare - is this organized for:''' | |||
- national internal party events (leadership meetings, conferences etc) | |||
- major public events? | |||
- local party meetings? | |||
- Is it organized every time or only on request? | |||
The Party do not have yet a standard policy on childcare. We have diverse experience, however, like in one of our region (W), members of women commission practiced collective child-rearing. Some other instances, members with children requested for various help like to raise the urgent need for tuition fees, for medication, for | |||
accommodation in comrades homes so that children can go to school in urban centers,- temporary adoption for departed comrades, etc. | |||
During organizational meetings, we allow comrades to bring along the children, provided, it is safe for the security of the children. We also organized special transportation and accommodation arrangement for participating comrades with children. | |||
'''4. Sexism/sexual harassment and violence within the party''' | |||
- Is this mentioned in your statutes/resolution on functioning?? | |||
- is there a specified procedure to deal with such cases? | |||
- Is there a specific body to deal with it, is it: | |||
- party control/disciplinary commission | |||
- gender violence commission | |||
- special commission constituted for each case | |||
The Party Statutes clearly stipulated provision for sexual harrassment and violence against any gender. We have Party Control Body who deals with this and the PCB also creates special bodies/commission for special cases. | |||
'''5. Women’s work (activity in feminist movement and on feminist themes)''' | |||
- is there a specific body to organise this? | |||
- is it elected, who by? | |||
- do all women on the leadership participate? | |||
- do you have a specific publication | |||
As mentioned earlier, we have Women Commission members who headed different lines of works and thematic campaigns (e.g. humanitarian, food sovereignty, peace, migration, etc.). There are positions that are elected during Party Congress and there are also positions that are collectively decided during CC Plenum. In some themes, women comrades assumed the positions out of a democratic, open space nomination and election. All our women members are involved in the different campaigns based on their expertise and concern. | |||
No, we do not have publication. | |||
Organisation: SAP (Socialist Workers’ Politics) Danish section of the IVth | |||
Country: Denmark | |||
• '''In your statutes and/or resolution on functioning is there any mention of special measures to promote women’s participation e.g.''' | |||
• quotas or parity in leadership bodies yes | |||
• organization of speaking list: Partly (mostly other forms of organising discussions) | |||
• internal women only meetings: Yes | |||
• others | |||
• '''Are these practised at:''' | |||
• national leadership level: The national leadership is elected as a collective, and in the process of trying to create a list of candidates, the proportion of women takes a high priority. We rarely use the other measures. | |||
• local branch/committee level: | |||
• '''Childcare - is this organized for:''' | |||
• national internal party events (leadership meetings, conferences etc) Yes, though not as a general rule for leadership meetings. | |||
• major public events: We almost never do those as SAP, only as part of the Red Green Alliance/Socialist Youth Front | |||
• local party meetings: This can be arranged as per request. | |||
• is it organized every time or only on request: For national internal party events it is always organized. For other smaller events and leadership meetings, mainly on request. | |||
• '''Sexism/sexual harassment and violence within the party''' | |||
• Is this mentioned in your statutes/resolution on functioning Not specifically no. | |||
• is there a specific procedure to deal with such cases. | |||
• is there a specific body to deal with it, is it It is the party control commision and perhaps also through the bureau. | |||
• party control/disciplinary commision | |||
• gender violence commision | |||
• special commision constituted for each case | |||
• '''Women’s work (activity in feminist movement and on feminist themes)''' | |||
• is there a specific body to organize that: At the moment not on a permanent basis, but temporary commisions can be set up. | |||
• is it elected, by who: Often by the national leadership | |||
• do all women on the leadership participate No | |||
• do you have a specific publication Not for feminist issues only. | |||
'''Organization: MES | |||
Country: Brazil''' | |||
'''1. In your statutes and /or resolution on functioning is there any mention of special measures to promote women’s participation e.g. | |||
- quotas or parity in leadership bodies, | |||
- organization of speaking lists | |||
- internal women-only meetings | |||
- others''' | |||
About MES, we have internal women-only meetings and we seek to ensure parity in all instances. | |||
''' | |||
2. Are these practised at: | |||
- national leadership level? | |||
- local branch/committee level?''' | |||
In all this. | |||
'''3. Childcare - is this organized for: | |||
- national internal party events (leadership meetings, conferences etc) | |||
- major public events? | |||
- local party meetings?''' | |||
- Is it organized every time or only on request? | |||
Childcare is organized for the national events, public or not, since it was requested. ''' | |||
4. Sexism/sexual harassment and violence within the party | |||
Is this mentioned in your statutes/resolution on functioning??''' | |||
In our resolutions. | |||
'''is there a specified procedure to deal with such cases?''' | |||
There is. ''' | |||
Is there a specific body to deal with it, is it: | |||
party control/disciplinary commission | |||
gender violence commission | |||
special commission constituted for each case''' | |||
Both. | |||
''' | |||
5. Women’s work (activity in feminist movement and on feminist themes) | |||
is there a specific body to organise this?''' | |||
Yes, there is. | |||
'''is it elected, who by?''' | |||
Leadership meetings and conferences. | |||
'''do all women on the leadership participate?''' | |||
Yes. | |||
''do you have a specific publication'' | |||
Yes, we have a periodical magazine and some booklets. | |||
''' | |||
Organization : Subverta | |||
Country: Brazil''' | |||
'''1. In your statutes and /or resolution on functioning is there any mention of special measures to promote women’s participation e.g.''' | |||
In in the freedom and socialism party (PSOL) , we have a 30% rule of women in the direction. We have a speaking list at local level . And we have a national coordination of women. In addition, we have national meetings of women and self-organized spaces. | |||
'''2. Are these practised at:''' | |||
-All levels: national and local | |||
'''3. Childcare - is this organized for:''' | |||
- national internal party events. yes. | |||
- major public events? yes | |||
- local party meetings? yes | |||
- Is it organized every time or only on request? On request. | |||
'''4. Sexism/sexual harassment and violence within the party''' | |||
In the party, we have the national ethics committee that deals with cases of sexual violence and harassment. The commission is listed in the statute. The procedure is for the commission to analyze the case, listening to the victim, the accused and witnesses, then makes a report that is submitted to the National Directory. Sanctions may include expulsion, formation or suspension. | |||
Feminist formations are also provided for the men, the formations are in charge of the women's sector of the party. | |||
'''5. Women’s work (activity in feminist movement and on feminist themes)''' | |||
Normally, the women of the PSOL act in the feminist movement, as in the constructions of March 8, in the struggles for the legalization of abortion, acts, etc. | |||
'''Organization: Sosyalist Demokrasi İçin Yeniyol (New Course for Socialist Democracy) | |||
Country: Turkey | |||
1. In your statutes and /or resolution on functioning is there any mention of special measures to promote women’s participation e.g.''' | |||
- quotas or parity in leadership bodies Yes | |||
- organization of speaking lists Sort of | |||
- internal women-only meetings Yes | |||
- others | |||
'''2. Are these practised at:''' | |||
- national leadership level? Yes | |||
- local branch/committee level? (Our organization is not a large one in numbers; we only have a secretariat, not local branches.) | |||
'''3. Childcare - is this organized for:''' | |||
- national internal party events (leadership meetings, conferences etc) No | |||
- major public events? No | |||
- local party meetings? No | |||
- Is it organized every time or only on request? We never organized childcare until now. | |||
'''4. Sexism/sexual harassment and violence within the party''' | |||
- Is this mentioned in your statutes/resolution on functioning?? Yes | |||
- is there a specified procedure to deal with such cases? Yes | |||
- Is there a specific body to deal with it, is it: Women’s Coordination | |||
- party control/disciplinary commission | |||
- gender violence commission | |||
- special commission constituted for each case | |||
'''5. Women’s work (activity in feminist movement and on feminist themes)''' | |||
- is there a specific body to organise this? Women’s Coordination | |||
- is it elected, who by? Women’s Coordination includes all women who are actively members of our organization. | |||
- do all women on the leadership participate? Yes | |||
- do you have a specific publication Yes (Yeniyol) | |||
''' | |||
Organization Socialist Resistance | |||
Country Britain''' | |||
'''1. In your statutes and /or resolution on functioning is there any mention of special measures to promote women’s participation e.g.''' | |||
- quotas or parity in leadership bodies | |||
Parity/quotas are not longer in our constitution as we were having difficulty meeting these. However the outgoing leadership makes a submission to the nominations commission in which the question of women’s representation is always a significant part | |||
- organization of speaking lists | |||
We don’t think we have codified this anywhere though many of us regularly raise it – combined with taking short lists to allow for more interactive discussion. Good idea | |||
- internal women-only meeting, | |||
The facility exists in our constitution for self organised meetings of any oppressed group. | |||
- others | |||
'''2. Are these practised at: national leadership level?''' Women’s caucuses have met at leadership level and at one national conference but not for some time. There is an issue of double burden as women do a disproportionate amount of both internal and external organising | |||
- local branch/committee level? Not in SR but they could be | |||
'''3. Childcare - is this organized for:''' | |||
Childcare for internal meetings is specified in the constitution as something that should be discussed with any comrade with responsibility for children. No sure how consistently this is done especially when a male comrade has responsibility but their female partner is not a member. Most internal meetings take place on weekday evenings which are anyway a difficult time for collective childcare. | |||
For large external events would advertise availability but have to have strict deadline to register children because of strict legal requirements re ratios of staff to children | |||
- national internal party events (leadership meetings, conferences etc) | |||
- major public events? | |||
- local party meetings? | |||
- Is it organized every time or only on request? | |||
''' | |||
4. Sexism/sexual harassment and violence within the party | |||
- Is this mentioned in your statutes/resolution on functioning??''' | |||
Sexism is mentioned together with other forms of discriminatory behaviour. There are no specific procedures to deal with sexual harassment. (It is probably worth noting that we developed our procedures the last time we had a particularly difficult case and probably most peoples’ attitude is that we would do that again if appropriate/necessary) | |||
- is there a specified procedure to deal with such cases? | |||
The process deals with all types of cases | |||
'''- Is there a specific body to deal with it, is it: | |||
- party control/disciplinary commission | |||
- gender violence commission | |||
- special commission constituted for each case''' | |||
We have a control commission but it is not a trial body but there to ensure that the trial body – either a branch or the leadership if the complainee is a member of the leadership. Our constitution specifies the control commission should be a majority of women – this clause was put there a long time ago with cases of violence against women in mind | |||
'''5. Women’s work (activity in feminist movement and on feminist themes)''' | |||
- is there a specific body to organise this? | |||
- is it elected, who by? | |||
- do all women on the leadership participate? | |||
- do you have a specific publication | |||
We have no women’s commission or the like – but then we have no real permanent structures between branch and leadership for any area of work. However, comrades are actively doing feminist work mainly through the Labour Party and trade unions – including their women’s structures – where we are generally active. We have kept a watching brief on abortion work – where there have been dangers of the law becoming more restrictive – or in solidarity with Irish women organising to Repeal the 8th. So rather than organising the feminist movement per se, given the fragmentation of the movement we are active as socialist feminists as part of our general political work. | |||
We have no regular written publications – only our website and then our books. We have published two particular feminist books – one the FI resolutions on women and one Dangerous Liaisons by Cinzia Arruzza in collaboration with the IIRE. | |||
'''Organization- Bloco de Esquerda Country- Portugal | |||
'''1. In your statutes and /or resolution on functioning is there any mention of special measures to promote women’s participation | |||
For internal bodies Bloco de Esquerda has 1/3 rule for every list. | |||
For public representation it´s 50% ( e.g. list for general elections) | |||
Every two/three years Bloco de Esquerda organizes a nacional feminist meeting, to debate the public agenda concerning women´s rights and feminism. This event is organized mainly by women comrades which are part of the feminist movement or are connected with gender/women´s studies. | |||
'''2. Are these practised at: | |||
The 1/3 rule for internal bodies and the 50% rule for public representation are applied at a national and local level. | |||
'''3. Childcare - is this organized for: | |||
- For national internal party events there is always a childcare area. | |||
- For some local party events the childcare area is organized only on request. | |||
'''4. Sexism/sexual harassment and violence within the party | |||
Bloco de Esquerda has an independent body called Rights Committee elected every two years at the party congress. It´s an internal control body composed by 7 comrades. | |||
It´s a complaint channel and also the body responsible to manage all kind of complains (including the ones about sexism or sexual harassament). | |||
'''5. Women’s work (activity in feminist movement and on feminist themes) | |||
There is no specific national body for the feminist work. There is an informal local feminist group within the party in Lisbon. | |||
Latest revision as of 19:08, 15 September 2019
Agenda
Saturday morning
9.00-12.30 Chair: DK
- Introduction to the seminar - Penny (English)
- introduction of participants
- Introduction to the Institute - Maral (English)
- organizing (cooking teams, language groups, etc)
Saturday afternoon
14.30-16.15 Chair: Nadia+CH
- introduction to the theme - Nadia (French)
- introduction on social reproduction theory: Tithi Bhattacharya (USA) (by skype) English
- Introduction on ecofeminism: Julia Camara (Spanish state) (Castilian/Spanish)
Discussion in plenary
16.30 - 18.30
- language groups discussion
Sunday morning
09.00 - 09.30 Chair: Christine+B
- Plenary
09.30 - 12.30
- language groups discussion
Sunday afternoon (with break)
14.30 - 18.30 Chair: Christine+B
- plenary discussion
- conclusions
Monday morning 9.00 - 10.30 Chair: Terry+PH
- introduction to the theme - Terry (English)
- Introductions on the women's movement from
Ximena Argentina (Castilian/Spanish)
Ahlem Belhadj Tunisia (French)
Patri Amaya Spanish state (Castilian/Spanish)
- questions and answers
10.45 - 12.30
- language groups discussion
Monday afternoon
14.30 - 17.00
- language groups discussion
17.30 - 18.30 Chair: Cheron+P
- report backs from groups
Tuesday morning
09.00 - 12.30 Chair: Josie+BR
- plenary discussion
- conclusions
Tuesday afternoon
14.30 - 18.30 Chair Laia+MX CSR
Women in our parties - form of discussion to be decided
Wednesday morning
09.00 - 12.30 Chair: Penny+GR
conclusions - what document(s) to prepare for the IC
Reading materials
Theoretical questions
What is social reproduction theory? Tithi Bhattacharya https://socialistworker.org/2013/09/10/what-is-social-reproduction-theory
What is Ecofeminism Yayo Herrero and Juan Tortosa http://www.internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article2407
The movement ON 3rd or 4th WAVE
English / Français / Castellano Laia´s notes
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E7-bdJS1tNU2ljeTfl92aXyZbVJZsQCr/view
Manifesto “Toward a Feminist International” (2019)
https://www.versobooks.com/blogs/4259-beyond-march-8th-toward-a-feminist-international
Feminism of the 99% (2017)
“Beyond Lean-In: For a Feminism of the 99% and a Militant International Strike on March 8”
ANALYSIS OF THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT by country
1. ITALY: Article of 2017 analysis of the beginnings of the new wave and its characteristics
English: A new feminist movement in Italy is on the move
http://www.internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article5002
2. SPANISH STATE: Article of 2019 to reflect on the limits, potentialities and challenges of the movement and the 8M
“Change Everything: Foundations and Challenges of the Feminist Strike in Spain”
3. ARGENTINA: Interview of 2018 on struggle for abortion with some keys to understanding the movement in Latin America
“Beyond the rejection of the law for the legalization of abortion in Argentina: a fourth feminist wave?”
http://www.internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article5740
4. ALGERIA: interview to reflect on mobilizations in Algeria from the standpoint of feminism
“Many women have become conscious of the value of claiming their rights and demanding the end of the system”
http://internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article6026
5. FRANCE. WOMEN IN THE MOVEMENT OF YELLOW VESTS. This text is included to analyse the new wave beyond the feminist movement itself, to also analyse what we have called "feminization of protest"
“Women in the yellow jacket movement: class revolt, gender transgression”
http://www.internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article5843
Documents of the Fourth International on Women's Liberation
1979 WORLD CONGRESS
Socialist Revolution and the Struggle for Women’s Liberation http://internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?rubrique133
1991 WORLD CONGRESS
Latin America: Dynamics of mass movements and feminist currents: http://internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article142
Western Europe: Changing forms of the struggle for women’s liberation: http://internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article140
Positive action and partybuilding among women: http://internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article143
Reports
Outline of document for IC
The new rise of the women’s movement
1. What is the context
1.1 Neoliberalism,
1.2 Rise of far right, authoritarianism, anti “gender ideology” (Brazil, Eastern Europe)
1.3 Religious fundamentalism
1.4 Climate change (or disaster)
1.5 Massive migration
1.6 Crisis of reproduction
2. What are the factors that have provoked this rise
2.1 Women hardest hit by all these factors although some contradictory effects ie women in Poland and Hungary more like to vote for far right because of loss of services, "family friendly" policies of far right
2.2 Feminization of labour
2.3 Increased gender violence (and its perception)
2.4 Increasing role of women in society and in popular movements
2.5 Building on previous international contacts: Latin American Encuentros, World March of Women, social forums movement
2.6 NGOization of women’s movement, glass ceiling or “lean in” feminism
3. What are the specificities of this movement
3.1 Geographical spread (strongest in Latin America, Western Europe, specificity North America – anti-Trump mobilizations, Poland – abortion strike but weak in Eastern Europe, Arab region, Africa, Asia)
3.2 New generations
3.3 New preoccupations
3.4 New methods of struggle - feminist strike
3.5 New theoretical understandings (social reproduction theory, ecofeminism)
4. What is its strategic importance
4.1 Leading resistance of class as a whole eg anti-Trump in US, antio-Bolsonaro in Brazil. Also teachers strikes in US, processes in Algeria, Sudan
4.2 does it lead us to reconsider our strategic understanding of the role of the women’s movement
5. What are our tasks (our orientation) within the movement?
5.1 Mass self-organized action
5.2 Demands that address the needs of the most oppressed/exploited while building unity between (a) the broadest women’s resistance against the right, (b) feminism for the 99% (women’s strikes etc.) and (c) revolutionaries.
5.3 Importance of international coordination
5.4. Intersection (articulation) with other social movements
Responses to Questionnaire on movements - English only
Subverta Brazil, Britain, Philippines, Denmark, Pakistan, Brazil Comuna, Brazil MES, Greece, Germany, Turkey
Organization: SUBVERTA Country: Brazil
Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition? No, in Brazil, we don’t have a national coalition and We have no agreement with other feminist organizations like the World March of Women to call for a feminist strike.
Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members? The unions participate, but in a very minority way. This year saw a major effort, involving the unions and labor centrals, in which many unions approved a standstill on 8 March. But we still have a long way to go before the unions incorporate the feminist agenda as central to the working class.
What were the demands of the mobilization? Was there a manifesto? The demands of March 8th of that year were Marielle Franco's justice, against the withdrawal of rights, against pension reform, legalization of abortion, for the lives of women. In several states they had a manifesto, but we could not produce a national manifesto. March 8th in Brazil is still very fragmented.
Was the mobilization stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it take place? (Was it representative? Bigger? How much?) The 8M this year, had an important role, because it was the first major act against the Bolsonaro government. We had acts in 14 of the 26 states. They were important and big things, but we still have a very big challenge to get women on the streets.
Did it bring together rural and urban organizations? This union did not occur in all Brazilian states.
To what extent are black women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition? It was sought nationally to involve the black women's movement, such as the black women's forum, the articulation of black women and the unified black movement. One of his demands is the end of the genocide of black youth. In some states, black women opened the 8M Act. More black women perform their own act every July: the march of black women to celebrate the Latin American and Caribbean day of the black woman.
To what extent are indigenous women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the coalition leadership? The indigenous women's movement is still very invisible within the feminist movement, especially in the southeastern region of the country. The indigenous people have an important encounter that is the free land encampment that occurs every year.
To what extent are trans women's organizations or organizations that definitely include trans women involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the coalition leadership?
To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they send only a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands?
To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement? The Palestinian solidarity movement is not much vindicated in the feminist movement.
To what extent has there been a collective balance sheet of 8M 2019? It did not have a collective balance of 8M in many states of Brazil. the movement falls apart as soon as the act is finished.
To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will the Feminist Strike have a central place in the call? The 8M of 2020 has not yet begun to be organized.
To what extent is your political organization involved in this work? We at Subverta, always help in the construction of 8M.
In some countries there has been a qualitative growth and change in the women’s movement in the last few years. Is this true for you? Has this led to a discussion that there is a new feminist wave? Is there a generation gap in the movement? A focus on different issues? A different language? Different methods of struggle and organization? Does this new movement pose itself as part of a global anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial alternative? Does it have international links (and with which other countries/organisations) How does it relate to traditional working-class organisations? To other social movements?
Organization Socialist Resistance Country Britain Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition? Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members? There has not been a national coalition of feminist organisations in Britain for many decades. 8M in general tends to be very fragmented – in many parts of country an indoor meeting organised by institutions rather than militant marches or even rallies. The only current we were aware of that responded to the women’s strike call in 2017 in Britain were the Wages for Housework current – Selma James et all and the various organisations they are involved in, which tend to be almost exclusively based in London A new coalition called Women’s Strike was founded we think in 2017 – certainly in advance 8m2018 of which doesn’t seem to involve Wages for Housework people or groups. https://womenstrike.org.uk/. For 2019 they were able to get some modest trade union support – though we don’t know what level of participation this involved.
What were the demands of the mobilization? Was there a manifesto? Not as far as we can tell – its more a critique than a series of demands
Was the mobilization stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it take place? (Was it representative? Bigger? How much?) Some growth but still very small in comparison with southern Europe or Latin America.
Did it bring together rural and urban organizations? Not relevant in Britain
To what extent are black women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition? There are no specifically black womens’ organisations involved at this point but there are a number of specifically migrant women’s groups (Polish, Chinese, Brazilian Kurdish for example) and some of the highest profile women writing and speaking for the group are not British – and may well have links with places eg Italy where the movement is stronger. Website talks about the specific contribution of black feminism and they have been significantly involved in anti-racist and anti-fascist actions
To what extent are indigenous women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the coalition leadership? Not relevant in Britain
To what extent are trans women's organizations or organizations that definitely include trans women involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the coalition leadership? There is one trans womens’ organisation involved and from the beginning it has been involved in trans inclusive actions and taking up demands of trans women eg around health cuts and is also very pro-sex worker which is often an overlap
To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they send only a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands? Not relevant in Britain To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement? No trace of it on their site
To what extent has there been a collective balance sheet of 8M 2019? Don’t know- women’s strike website quiet on this
To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will the Feminist Strike have a central place in the call? Don’t know- women’s strike website quiet on this
To what extent is your political organization involved in this work? Because of the small and fragmented nature of the coalition its difficult. They seem to have 3 bases – London, Bristol and Leeds – we have no women comrades in the latter two. They in majority young women with an anarcho-libertarian approach. We did try and take the issue up in our trade unions but we should have a strategy of doing more work in the Labour Party and trade unions towards 2020 as well as trying to link up with them over more ongoing stuff eg a feminist protest when Boris Johnson, who was clearly involved in domestic violence very recently, is elected leader of the Tory Party. In some countries there has been a qualitative growth and change in the women’s movement in the last few years. Is this true for you? Has this led to a discussion that there is a new feminist wave? Is there a generation gap in the movement? A focus on different issues? A different language? Different methods of struggle and organization? Does this new movement pose itself as part of a global anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial alternative? Does it have international links (and with which other countries/organisations) How does it relate to traditional working-class organisations? To other social movements? Answers already given I think - Women's Strike definitely refers to the development of an international movement.
Country Philippines
Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition? In the Philippines, 8M 2019 mobilizations were not as big like in other countries. Due to political fragmentation, there was never been a coordinated, unified call for Feminist Strike. So, mobilizing organizations or/and coalitions, which are Manila-centered, have their own calls and respective activities in different places. Some of these women’s movements in Manila are our friends but they did not invite us for joint planning or even just to inform us of their plans for their focus is just at the main political center (Manila). For our group, we have an open campaign organization where all women members are in. However, under Martial Law, the Women Leadership of this campaign machinery has difficulty in mobilizing women in the streets. Especially that in 2018, we experienced arrest and harassment of our group of young activities in one of the cities we operate. Early this year, the military under the order of the president released in the media the lists of some progressive and militant groups tag as terrorists. Some of these groups are our allies. The anti-insurgency campaign of the President is intensively implemented in Mindanao so many of our women comrades are hesitant to mobilize. The Women Commission also saw the need to take extra precautionary measures this time. So instead of going into the streets, we launched coordinated indoor educational discussions where women members in Bangsamoro, IPs and Migrants Communities participated and this took place in several regions.
Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members? In the Manila-centered mobilizations, trade unions were not visible at all. Only all-women’s groups.
What were the demands of the mobilization? Was there a manifesto? Common demands are against the anti-women attacks of the misogynist president denouncing policies and laws oppressive to women and women’s oppressed condition including the increasing poverty, joblessness, ending of contractualisation policy that subjected women in food chains, supermarkets, big malls and everywhere. All kinds of attacks against women under this capitalist system. However, because it is fragmented, each group had each own sort of manifesto or open statement.
Was the mobilization stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it takeplace? (Was it representative? Bigger? How much?) NO, those were not so big. And it is limited in Manila and few cities in the Visayas and southern Mindanao. In Davao City, the place where President Duterte lives – there was no mobilization or any kind of activity conducted by progressive groups.
Did it bring together rural and urban organizations?
To what extent are black women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition?
To what extent are indigenous women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the coalition leadership?
As shared earlier, our Indigenous women comrades also ensured that Indigenous women in their communities participate in the 8M 2019 activities. They themselves have their own discussion session. Their issues being push include the regulation of polygamy and arranged marriages, the abolition of forced marriages in the context of rape; violence against women, against mining and the campaign for the protection of their ancestral land now being under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). They campaign also for their SULAGAD – a traditional way of farming or methods of production of safe food. In the tribal structure, it is now part of the demands of our women IP comrades the creation of an all-women special committee for settlement of women’s complaints and grievances. ` To what extent are trans women's organizations or organizations that definitely include trans women involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the coalition leadership? In our country, the issue of trans women in the women’s movement is not yet very much discussed. Women’s movements and groups remain to be composed of all women – whether lesbians or straight. There are few small trans woman groups (mostly Manila-based). Some of them are just support groups to the LGBT movement. However, others have started to articulate their own- demands trans people’s health, human rights, security & empowerment. There are known transwoman personalities and politician, but remain least represented in political/public sphere). Demands: gender recognition law aside to the anti-discrimination law
To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they send only a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands? In our context, we have many women members in the peasantry or the women farmers. We also have all-women farmers organizations that are very much active in women issues, in the food sovereignty campaign – in the struggle for land rights, safe food production, and struggle for environmental protection. These struggles are very close to the heart of our women members in the peasant struggle.
To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement? We still integrate Solidarity for Palestine in our on going peace campaign of which women azre very active. However, in the 8M 2019, it was unfortunately not integrated.
To what extent has there been a collective balance sheet of 8M 2019? We conducted evaluations of 8M 2019 in different respective areas. But as to the over-all country-level balance sheet, this is not possible.
To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will the Feminist Strike have a central place in the call? It has been initially proposed in our women commission that in 8M 2020 even under the context of extended martial law, we will initiate a new concept of street, open space mobilization that is innovative where we can still display our slogans and calls. It will be synchronized in different regions and cities in Mindanao and we will try to link up with the group of the World March of Women in the Philippines, even if they are confined only in Manila. This is a project of the women commission of the party, hence, we expect full support of all members. We will ask the national leadership to release a MEMO to the party organization for everyone to take active participation – even asking that men comrades can play an auxiliary support. In some countries there has been a qualitative growth and change in the women’s movement in the last few years. Is this true for you? Has this led to a discussion that there is a new feminist wave? Is there a generation gap in the movement? A focus on different issues? A different language? Different methods of struggle and organization? Does this new movement pose itself as part of a global anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial alternative? Does it have international links (and with which other countries/organisations) How does it relate to traditional working-class organisations? To other social movements? This is quite difficult to comment as of now given our context when there is Martial Law in Mindanao and with this misogynist and fascist president.
Organisation: SAP (Socialist Workers’ Politics) Danish section of the IVth Country: Denmark
Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition? No Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members? Some of the more left wing of the traditional trade unions and the Students’ union were in on the call for a demonstration.
What were the demands of the mobilisation? Was there a manifesto? There were no clear or radical demands. The biggest demonstration in the capital city was very much a “bring your own slogan” demonstration and was also called by the social democratic party. Their presence was protested against by left wing radical militants who problematised their extremely racist policies throughout the last few years especially.
Was the mobilisation stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it take place? (Was is representative? Bigger? How much?) There were more people on the streets in Copenhagen (the official number is 7000) than last year, but last year had a particularly weak demonstration. There were mobilisations in at least three cities, but only one bigger one in Copenhagen. Did it bring together rural and urban organizations? No.
To what extent are black women’s organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition? Not really to any extent.
To what extent are indigenous women’s organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the leadership of the coalition? Not really to any extend.
To what extent are trans women’s organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the leadership of the coalition? Not really to any extend. There was a racialised, trans speaker at the demonstration in Copenhagen. To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they only send a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands? Not really to any extent.
To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement? There was no explicit declaration of solidarity.
To what extent has there been any collective balance sheet of 8M 2019 None. To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will he feminist strike have a central place in the call? There has been an open call for activists by the same independent initiative that planned 8M 2019, but to no extend in neither the Socialist Youth Front nor the Red-Green Alliance.
To what extent is your political organization involved in this work? Neither has played any major role in the last two years, but the demonstrations has been arranged by members from both organisations under an independent initiative. In some countries there has been a qualitative growth and change in the women’s movement in the last few years. Is this true for you? Has this led to the discussion that there is a new feminist wave? Is there a generation gap in the movement? A focus on different issues? A different language? Different methods of struggle and organization? Does this new movement pose itself as part of a global anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial alternative? Does it have international links? (and with which other countries/organisations?) How does it relate to traditional working class organisations? To other social movements? There has been a lasting increase in feminist consciousness and especially the impact of the MeToo movement was felt around Denmark, however this momentum has unfortunately not been taken up by the left or any others and turned into real political movement with political demands - yet. Thus, individualistic identity politics with an extreme focus on personal responsibility of individual ‘allies’ instead of attacking the larger social and economical structures and with little to no focus on the actual emancipation coming from groups of the oppressed themselves, have come to take up too much space, because it is very visible online and there is no real movement presence anywhere else. This is also true in some parts for the lgbtqi-movement and the antiracist “movement”. All of this has been met with a backlash from the extreme right, extreme center and economist and populist parts of the left (including people within the Red-Green Alliance) talking about “political correctness”, “division of the left”etc, and to some extent also a transphobic backlash, which luckily has only been a minor issue in feminist circles.
There has been some public discussion of a new feminist wave, but it has gone in the opposite direction of the places where a feminist movement has otherwise been strong. In Denmark talk has mostly been of a so called “fourth wave” of liberal, individual, mostly internet based feminism, and the idea was mostly put forth by a few women made famous by the internet. The talk about a new feminist wave has mostly died out by now.
There have been some visible changes in the issues that are at the forefront of feminist discussions - most noticeably the movement to criminalise the purchase of sex has died out in the later years, and there has been more emphasis on concepts like intersectionality and media representation. The idea that we have already reached gender equality in Scandinavia is still prevalent in the general public.
In these newer feminist circles (mostly made up of young people), there does not seem to be any big idea of being part of an international (anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial) movement, and generally the horizon seems to be limited to inside the national borders. Perhaps during the height of #MeToo there was a feeling of international cohesion, but not much notice has been paid to the rest of the global feminist movement. And no link to traditional working class organisations or other social movements seems to exist in Denmark.
Organization: Jammu Kashmir Awami Workers Party
Country: Pakistan
Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition? Thousands of women from a cross-section of society rallied in cities across Pakistan as part of the "Aurat March" (women's march) to mark the International Women's Day 2019. This was a call from a national coalition of different feminist, social and political women activists around the country. Women from Kashmir also participated in the March.
The "aurat march" was first launched in the southern port city of Karachi last year when a group of women decided to expand the feminist movement beyond the upper-class of the society.
Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members? There were no trade unions involved in this mobalisation as organisations. But few women leaders from trade unions participated in individual capacity. Few labour organisations from civil society also participated in the Aurat March and mobilised informal sector women workers.
Lady Health Workers Association (LHWA) with a membership of about 90,000 women from across the country was one of the first to have endorsed the initiative.
What were the demands of the mobilization? Was there a manifesto? It was the march for the person, who was victimized by patriarchy. It was march for all the women to be treated as equal as men. Aurat march was mobilized to unite women across Pakistan to demand their social and economic rights and demand an end to gender violence and discrimination. It was about women taking charge of their own destiny and paving the way for their daughters. Demands of mobilization were economic justice, equal labour, safety at workplace, acknowledgement of work in the home, equality at work, equality at public places, sexual harassment and access to equal justice as men. Was the mobilization stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it take place? (Was it representative? Bigger? How much?) Comparatively Aurat March to mark International women Day in 2019 was stronger than ever. Upper-class women can speak for some but this year the intent was for every woman to speak for herself and women can speak more if they are given support. Large number of women participated in Aurat March representing cross- sections of society. It was the first time that this march opened the discussion on national level and also faced criticism by religious section due to their bold slogans like warm your own food, find your own socks, their bodies, their sexuality. Women asked for rights within the home. In 2018, nearly 5,000 women, children and men took part in the women's march in Karachi. But this year, the march was expanded to other cities such as Lahore, Islamabad, Hyderabad, Quetta, Peshawar and Faisalabad, as people from the younger generation joined the movement for gender justice. This time younger feminist movement was enabled by the older feminist movement of the 1980s, but this has a different energy, a different face. The issues facing women today are inequality in public spaces, discrimination at work, no safety measures at workplace, and most importantly, no infrastructure support, while the previous generation fought for political rights. The older generation laid the foundation stones for the new feminist movement. Illustrators created the artworks for the march, and many other illustrators came together to make their own versions of the "self-expression" of women. The posters raised in Aurat March meant to show Pakistani women as strong, opinionated, loud and can reflect the bold stand." Did it bring together rural and urban organizations? Not much actually, there were very few rural women mobilised by some NGOs. Mostly the women were form urban areas.
To what extent are black women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition? Not relevant
To what extent are indigenous women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the coalition leadership? Not from indigenous but women from slums were part of this march. They are being displaced by the Government and fighting for their ownership rights to be legalized.
To what extent are trans women's organizations or organizations that definitely include trans women involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the coalition leadership? This was first time when some of the trans women also participated openly in Aurat March in cities like Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad and they raised slogans for their rights. There are no trans women in the leadership. The leadership is mostly in hands of feminist movement.
To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they send only a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands? Very few peasant women participated in the march. Peasant women are not very well organised in Pakistan and there are not very strong links between feminist women leadership and peasant women.
To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement? There is a sense of solidarity between feminist movement and demands for Palestine struggle but during the march there was no demand or slogans raised for Palestine.
To what extent has there been a collective balance sheet of 8M 2019? It is no secret that feminism is often co-opted by many to be viewed as a Western construct which marginalises non-Western identities. Western hegemony over feminist movements then feeds into repulsion towards feminism that is found in countries such as Pakistan.
We have grassroot feminist efforts working on the question of gender, yet we still lack a vernacular that can be used to refer to issues of gender inequality. While our languages are extremely evocative in expressing the full range of human emotion, it is a shame that we still have to rely on words such as 'zyadti' (excess) or 'zina-bil-jabr' (adultery by force) or 'asmat-dari' (defloration) to refer to incidents such as rape. With the Aurat March, terms such as 'pidar shahi' (patriarchy) and 'aurat march' are being circulated and created. Slogans such as "ghar ka kaam, sab ka kaam" (domestic task for all), "khud khana garam karo (warm your own food)", find your own socks" and — "paratha rolls, not gender roles" give a local flavour to the ways we can talk about feminism and gender. Most importantly, women’s mobilisation in the form of the Aurat March banishes the belief that women are not conscious of their own oppression. The idea that women are complicit in maintaining the status quo that decrees them second-class status and are unwilling or unprepared to fight for their rights utterly ignores the protective features of internalised misogyny. Women across social media have come forward to share their stories under the hashtag #WhyIMarch to support the aurat march on International Women's Day. It was a huge success of the march that taboo topics like women’s rights to their own bodies, their sexuality, are being discussed for the first time. Because it’s OK to ask the government for the right to education but you can’t say you are happily divorced because the breakdown of a marriage is a shameful thing, a woman’s failure.
To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will the Feminist Strike have a central place in the call? There is lot of pressure on the organisers of Aurat March (women’s march) after the event held in 2019. For 2020, there will be need of lot more mobilisation and effort to organise the march. Religious section criticized a lot, even some organizers of march got harassed and threats.
To what extent is your political organization involved in this work? As we are initial stage of building our organization (Jammu Kashmir Awami Workers Party) but have support at all level to empower women. We believe that just society is based on gender equality. In some countries there has been a qualitative growth and change in the women’s movement in the last few years. Is this true for you? Has this led to a discussion that there is a new feminist wave? Is there a generation gap in the movement? A focus on different issues? A different language? Different methods of struggle and organization? Does this new movement pose itself as part of a global anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial alternative? Does it have international links (and with which other countries/organisations) How does it relate to traditional working-class organisations? To other social movements? Yes there is no doubt that in some countries we can see qualitative growth and change in women’s movement. While the challenges for women are increasing, facing more oppression but on other side, women are ready to resist and becoming part of feminist movement. They have different issues to fight as compare to past struggles but there is still question on access to their fundamental rights. To some extent this new movement pose itself as part of global anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial alternative. They have very few links with international organizations.
Organization
COMUNA - Brazilian Section of the IV International.
PSOL - Partido Socialismo e Liberdade (Socialism and Freedom Party) Brazil'
1. Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition? The Feminist Strike was not called in Brazil in 2019, as was not in Argentina. There is no unitary national coalition. Brazil has important characteristics, such as its continental dimension, as well as a strong political culture of regionality, which leads to a greater dispersion of feminists, on the one hand, and greater plurality and representativeness - local and regional - of women's organizations, on the other. A sample of this is the São Paulo convocation, which alone was signed by more than 1 hundred organizations. But, it is important to note that the call has not been made only by women's organizations, mixed movements have also been added. The election of Bolsonaro represents a war against women, and also against the poor, black people and LGBTIQ +. This 8M can be considered as the most unified in many years, since it was possible to carry out 1 unified action in all Brazilian capitals. Some organizations that called the 8M at the national level: AMB (Articulation of Brazilian Women); CDD (Catholics for the Right to Decide); Evangelicals for Gender Equality; Defemde (Feminist Network of Jurists); MMM (World March of Women); MMC (Movement of Peasant Women); PLPs (Popular Legal Promoters); UBM (Brazilian Union of Women); CMP (Central of Popular Movements); CPT (Pastoral Land Commission); CTB (Federation of the Workers of Brazil); CUT (Unified Federation of Workers); Intersindical; Popular Brazil Front; National Front against the criminalization of women and for the legalization of abortion; Front of Fearless People; MAB (Movement of the Affected by Dams); MNU (Unified Black Movement); MTST (Movement of the Homeless Workers); MST (Movement of Landless Rural Workers); MAM (Movement for Popular Sovereignty in Mining); MAB (Movement of Affected by Dams); APIB (Articulation of the Indigenous Peoples of Brazil); PCB (Brazilian Communist Party); PCdoB (Communist Party of Brazil); PT (Workers' Party); Psol (Socialism and Freedom Party). That is, political parties (left and progressive), unions, indigenous women, quilombolas and peasant; women of the country and the city; social and religious movements.
2. Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members? Many unions, from different categories of workers participated - the (sexual) division of labor was not central. Some Trade Union Federations convened and participated in the mobilization on March 8. But, the participation of their militancy varied in each Brazilian State, with lesser or greater weight, although the Social Welfare Reform was one of the main demands of women and main agenda in the national scenario.
3. What were the demands of the mobilization? Was there a manifesto? As mentioned, Brazil has continental dimensions and important cultural differences, so each region established a dynamic, according to different force relations. In all the capitals, in addition to dozens of other cities in the country, almost weekly plenary sessions have been held since mid-January to prepare what was the first mobilization against the government of Jair Bolsonaro, it is necessary to highlight this point. We can list other unitary guidelines: Justice for Marielle, against the Social Welfare Reform and the end of violence against women. We emphasize the role of black women in the struggle for jobs, better wages, the fight against incarceration (of young women, their children and their families), against the criminalization of poverty; the struggle for Legalization of Abortion; the defence of the rights of migrant women - no woman is illegal; against the environmental crimes of Vale do Rio Doce, in Brumadinho and Mariana ("feminist procession"); the resistance of people of “terreiros” (meeting place of the religions of African origins); and presence of indigenous women; and LGBTIQ + demands. In Brazil, March was one of many struggles: 8M, 14M (Justice for Marielle, 1 year of the execution of Marielle and Anderson), 22M (against the Social Welfare Reform), 27M (suspension of indigenous health system, against FUNAI and INCRA extinction).
4. Was the mobilization stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it take place? (Was it representative? Bigger? How much?)
The mobilizations of 8M in Brazil must be understood in their decentralized dimensions. They occurred in all capitals and many cities of different sizes across the country (even in small cities motivated by # EleNão!). More than a hundred thousand women throughout Brazil have been occupying the streets. Some estimates: in São Paulo: 50 thousand; in Rio de Janeiro: 50 thousand; in Recife: 15 thousand; in Belo Horizonte: 30 thousand.
5. Did it bring together rural and urban organizations? Yes
6. To what extent are black women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition? Many black women's organizations have emerged in Brazil in recent years. In particular, small groups of young women. Many young black feminists have found in cultural movements an important space for denouncing their reality. Issues such as the right to the body, against the criminalization of poverty, labor rights and better salaries, quotas in universities, the right to religion and religiosity of African origins, and free expression of their ancestral culture are some of the demands. It is also important to highlight the participation of the Black Women March, a large and national black women's organization that has exists since 2015.
7. To what extent are indigenous women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the coalition leadership? The presence of indigenous women in women's movements has had greater visibility, albeit less than could be expected the Brazilian reality. The attacks of Bolsonaro government have contributed to indigenous women taking up public space. Their demands are linked to the defense of land and territory, common goods and well-being. In August 2019, the 1st National Meeting of Indigenous Women will take place with the theme "Territory: our body, our spirit", whose objective is to give visibility to the actions of indigenous women, discussing their realities, recognizing and strengthening their protagonism and capacities in the defense and guarantee of human rights, especially care for the Mother Earth, the territory, the body and the spirit. It is estimated that 2,000 women will participate, the march will coincide with the Marcha das Margaridas (100,000 rural, forest and water women workers). 8. To what extent are trans women's organizations or organizations that definitely include trans women involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the coalition leadership? Bolsonaro's attacks also target LGBTIQ +, there is an increase in police and state violence fueled by the hate speech of the president and his supporters. Some unity demands in the movement: to fight against the "gender ideology" and against setbacks in rights. It is important to highlight, besides the activism of trans women, the presence of Amparar (Association of Friends and Relatives of Prisoners) in the fight for the rights of their children, women and trans incarcerated. This entity has had joint initiatives with the MNU (Unified Black Movement), Uneafro and the Network for Resistance and Protection against Genocide. And, the Mothers for Diversity movement against homo-trans-lesbo and biphobia. In Brazil, every 48 hours a trans person is murdered. It is the country that kills most transvestites and trans in the world. Of the total, 67% of victims of violence are young, up to 29 years old. While the average life expectancy of the Brazilian population is 75 years, a transvestite or trans woman lives only 35 years, according to the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics). These data were widely reported by trans women. In defence of life, trans visibility was also on the agenda. There has been a movement on the part of trans women in recent years for their participation in feminism against patriarchal violence and the defence of trans identity. Part of it considers that the Maria da Penha Law represents an advance in the rights of women, and that it should be extended to transvestite and transsexual women. The participation of trans women towards 8M is different in each region or locality in Brazil. In general, they are still not very present.
9. To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they send only a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands? The Movement of Peasant Women was very present in the mobilizations of 8M and responsible for the most radical direct actions in Brazil. In Rio Grande do Norte, rural workers distributed 15 tons of food produced in state settlements, and in Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul) panels were organized on feminicide, violence against women and reproductive rights. Two hundred militants from the Landless Workers Movement (MST) and the Movement for Popular Sovereignty in Mining (MAM) occupied a unit of the Australian mining company in Bahia to protest against the predatory model of nickel exploitation and the risks of contamination of the rivers by dams of the company. In Belo Horizonte, one of the main slogans was: “Profit is not worth living. Our life is worth more” to denounce the environmental crime of Vale do Rio Doce and violence against women. They defend agroecology, the work of women and social security rights, against agribusiness, against pension reform that changes the criteria for rural and riverine workers as special insured. In addition, they denounced Bolsonaro's initiatives to disconnect the rural unions and the National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform. In August, the Marcha das Margaridas will be held, coordinated by the National Confederation of Farm Workers and Family Farmers (CONTAG) - more than 4,000 affiliated unions - in partnership with the feminist and women workers' movements, trade union federations and international organizations.
10. To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement? In Brazil, the WMW presented solidarity with the Palestinians as one of the demands. They animate the BDS campaign (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions).
11. To what extent has there been a collective balance sheet of 8M 2019? Some 8M regional organizations conducted balance of the protests and actions. In some localities it remained as a permanent movement, as in Belo Horizonte. Some initiatives have continued, exclusively in social networks, but in a very diffuse way - without meetings or coordinated actions of streets.
12. To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will the Feminist Strike have a central place in the call? In Brazil, the strike has not been central to the 8M and is not being accumulated for its convocation in 2020. It is possible that the Brazilian situation leads us to a strike, although we have to reflect more on its sense and meaning. 13. To what extent is your political organization involved in this work? The women of COMUNA take part of commissions of women in each community in which we are organized. The women of the PSOL have a relevant presence in the Brazilian capitals. We all participate as women of PSOL in the organization of 8M, as well as represent the women's and feminist movements in which we integrate. 14. In some countries there has been a qualitative growth and change in the women’s movement in the last few years. Is this true for you? Has this led to a discussion that there is a new feminist wave? Is there a generation gap in the movement? A focus on different issues? A different language? Different methods of struggle and organization? Does this new movement pose itself as part of a global anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial alternative? Does it have international links (and with which other countries/organisations) How does it relate to traditional working-class organisations? To other social movements?
The women of COMUNA have observed the quantitative and qualitative growth of women's movements. We have a historical trajectory in the women's and feminist movements, in the parties and in the political organizations in which we participate, even though we have different experiences corresponding to our different militant generations. The women of COMUNA are aware that the World March of Women was a milestone in the Brazilian feminist movement when it took on the fight against poverty (equal work, equal pay) and against sexist violence. It related the daily struggle of women to the "macro-economy-politics", that is, constructed a perspective of popular and diverse feminism. We identified in the WMW the connection between eco-socialism and eco-feminism, the dialogue with the demands of rural and urban women, and feminist internationalism. Their insertion of these debates into the feminist agenda was fundamental to the rapprochement with the peasant women and of these with the feminist agendas. We evaluated that the WMW without having the hegemony in the feminist movement was able to elevate the consciences of many women, from different sectors, to think-to make another world, with new social relations, free of patriarchy. We believe that it was a success that, at a given moment, in different countries, companions of the IV, different organizations and political parties, had opted for this alternative. There are many contradictions in each of our experiences - female quarters with the WMW - in Brazil, the alignment of part of the direction of this organization to the developmentist (and liberal social) governments of the PT made its construction impossible for a considerable part of COMUNA.
But what do we learn from them?
What challenges remain and what new challenges have arisen?
We consider that one of the challenges lies in building strategies to articulate revolutionary marxism and eco-feminism with the growing movement of women. We understand that there is a rise of the movement (s) of women and feminist (s), but not necessarily the inauguration of a new wave of feminism. We have identified a new and younger generation of women with a lot of reference in feminism, articulating the struggles of women LBTs (rights over bodies and the debate about families), peripheral black women, indigenous women and quilombolas. We also understand that there is a combination of new forms of struggles, including digital ones, with different feminist generations. In order to be characterized as a new wave (what wave?). We would have to consider the duration of women's struggles and the overcoming of the previous guidelines. We have a tendency to consider as a "new" milestone, the insertion of the demands of women peasants (rural workers, quilombolas, riverine, fisherwomen) articulating human emancipation, ecology and liberation of women from patriarchal oppression.
Organization: MES Country: Brazil
Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition? No strike was called. There was a call organized through Facebook events, mainly. Such events arise from the articulation of various feminist organizations in assemblies and meetings in each department/state. There is a certain tradition of 8M preparatory meetings in Brazil and unions, parties, social movements, feminist movements and independent women participate in them.
Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members? The main trade union centers of the broad left field participate. This time, the 8M had as its center the fight against the Pension Reform - an issue on the agenda of the National Congress. For this reason, the unions had significant columns of women.
What were the demands of the mobilization? Was there a manifesto? There was a manifesto for each event/call in the states. The central focus was on the fight against the Pension Reform and feminicide. To a lesser extent, the theme of Lula Livre ("Free Lula") arose, when the sectors of the PT managed to hegemonize some meetings. Our women, through their movements, acted to prevent this theme of Lula's freedom from becoming the center of the 2019 mobilization, despite it being quite fair. This position found a lot of support among independent women concerned about giving more voice to feminist demands in the country.
Was the mobilization stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it take place? (Was it representative? Bigger? How much?) It was not the largest mobilization of the last few years, but it was quite large. With emphasis on the number of people gathered in the main capitals: São Paulo had almost 100 thousand, Rio de Janeiro more than 50 thousand, in the national capital (Brasília) about 20 thousand.
Did it bring together rural and urban organizations? Mostly urban. However, on August 13, 2019 the March of Daisies will take place, a traditional mobilization of peasant women in Brazil. This year's march tends to be quite large as well.
To what extent are black women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition? There are many black women's organizations that participate in the mobilization of 8M. As specific organizations they are not the majority, but the protagonism of black women in the different feminist organizations in Brazil has been growing.
To what extent are indigenous women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the coalition leadership? Mainly in the northern states of the country, indigenous women participate intensively. In the rest of the country they do not have the same protagonism. During the National Indigenous Camp in April 2019, which meets annually in the federal capital, there was an enormous assembly of indigenous women, a fact that reveals the increased participation of indigenous women in the Brazilian feminist movement. To what extent are trans women's organizations or organizations that definitely include trans women involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the coalition leadership? To a much lesser extent, but there are trans women ahead of some movements.
To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they send only a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands? Peasant women participate less in the 8M calendar because they have a specific agenda in the year that is the March of the Daisies, which usually gathers tens of thousands of peasant women in the federal capital.
To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement? It is only a principle of some left-wing parties, but it was not included in the list of claims in the context of the 8M of 2019.
To what extent has there been a collective balance sheet of 8M 2019? Within the organizations that built the mobilizations and through their press outlets. Among the different movements, there was none.
To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will the Feminist Strike have a central place in the call? It hasn't started yet, but it's an established calendar in Brazil.
To what extent is your political organization involved in this work? Every year, the social movement of women that we promote, Juntas, is a fundamental part of the construction of this calendar. In some countries there has been a qualitative growth and change in the women’s movement in the last few years. Is this true for you? Has this led to a discussion that there is a new feminist wave? Is there a generation gap in the movement? A focus on different issues? A different language? Different methods of struggle and organization? Does this new movement pose itself as part of a global anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial alternative? Does it have international links (and with which other countries/organisations) How does it relate to traditional working-class organisations? To other social movements? In recent years, a significant growth in the struggle of women has been observed in several countries, which has taken to the streets, homes, workplaces and studies, the media and the spaces of power, corroborating the hypothesis that we live a new wave of the feminist movement, which has returned to being a vital and relevant political force in the world.
Since 2011, a series of episodes have been reinforcing this thesis and showing both a greater adherence to feminist ideas and a feminization of protests and social mobilizations: the Arab Spring (2010 to 2012), the Indignados of Spain (2011), the Occupy Wall Street (2011), the June mobilizations in Brazil (2013), among others. Since then, major movements with a specific gender perspective have had an international projection, starting with the Slut Walk in Canada in 2011 and the massive mobilizations in India in 2012 against the collective rape of a young woman on a bus. Massive protests against the culture of rape and violence against women, and for the right to body and sexuality, have been repeated in many countries - often using social networks as a tool for their dissemination. In Latin America, in 2015, we had the Ni Una Menos movement, strengthening the fight against feminicide, as well as the fight to legalize abortion, which peaked in Argentina in 2018. Preceded by the example of Polish women, who declared a strike to protest against a bill banning abortion in the country, the struggle of Argentines was undoubtedly a turning-point in discussions and actions around this agenda throughout the world. In a country with a strong Catholic tradition (where even the current pope comes from), women have achieved, using their green handkerchiefs, the unlikely approval in the Chamber of Deputies of a bill to legalize abortion. Although it was not approved by the Senate, the mobilization of Argentine women had a profound impact on public opinion on the issue, influencing the world feminist movement. In the United States, in 2016, the election of Donald Trump, known for his numerous misogynistic and racist statements, was the trigger for the call for the Women's March, a movement that brought together more than one million women in Washington in the presidential inauguration on January 20, 2017, as well as in numerous other cities in the US and even in other countries. The U.S. elections two years later reflected this new rise, through the conquest of seats in the legislature by many democratic socialist women, especially young, Latino, and black women, like Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez.
This accumulated indignation erupted in the acts of March 8, 2018, when an International Women's Strike was called with the slogan "If our lives do not matter, produce without us". This year, once again, millions of women made the protests of March 8 overflow: Spain, Chile and even the Philippines had a crowd of women on the streets on the International Women's Day. In addition, they also have been prominent as a political vanguard in a new stage of the African Arab revolutions, which are currently affecting Algeria and Sudan. Despite the differences with Egypt and Tunisia, and even between them, these two countries faced decades of autocratic regimes, which led to great popular dissatisfaction, resulting in the emergence of a strong mobilization against the "system" - the slogan of the streets. For these women, however, it is not enough to gain partial participation: faced with the opportunity to achieve more political participation, they began to claim the consolidation of their rights. In Algeria, as well as failing to recognise the facade elections of the old regime, women have included in their demands the fight against the laws that subjugate them to men. In Sudan, they demand the fall of the military government, but also the recognition of their leadership role - founded on a long tradition of women of the popular classes - in the revolt that began with the tripling of the price of bread in April of this year, in the midst of a serious economic crisis.
In Brazil, the Feminist Spring of 2015 was a milestone for the affirmation of the new stage of feminism in the country, with the proposal of the then House President, Eduardo Cunha, to restrict access to emergency contraceptives as its starting point. It was the struggle of brazilian women for sexual and reproductive rights, outside the more traditional feminist organizations linked to the PT government, the most forceful voice against the hated and powerful political articulator of the 2015 impeachment, which today is imprisoned with the support of much of the population.
Still in 2015, Brasília was the stage for the largest March of Black Women in the history of the country, also reinforcing the beginning of this new wave of feminist mobilizations around here. Since then, adolescent girls (12, 13 or older) have had feminism as their own motto, present in their daily lives. According to a survey conducted by DataFolha, among those known as millenials, 65% identify themselves as feminists. The latest processes of women's struggle in Brazil, however, demonstrate that it is not only young women who have taken for themselves the construction of feminism, but that there is a diversity of profiles that believe in women's strength as a way to achieve better living conditions. The search for equality between genders, the rejection of the condition of subjugation of women and various subjects of national and local politics are issues that have become a concern to a much larger number of women.
This feminist wave, therefore, has reached all spheres of everyday life and, fortunately, has also sown fruit in the homes of power, since women's discontent with the political caste that governs our country is flagrant.During the elections in 2018, hundreds of thousands of women led a gigantic demonstration against Bolsonaro, in the #NotHim mobilization. At that time, they already demonstrated that the reactionary policy evidenced in the public appearances and the government program of candidate would be even more harmful to women.
Fortunately, despite Bolsonaro's election, the number of women elected to the Legislative Houses has more than doubled compared to the previous legislature. In such a worrying scenario, it is extraordinary that the struggle of women has been strengthened: PSOL, for example, has elected a parity deputies bench, which now includes Sâmia Bomfim (SP), Luiza Erundina (SP), Fernanda Melchionna (RS), Talíria Petrone (RJ) and Áurea Carolina (MG). In the states, many women also occupied the Legislative Chambers, especially Luciana Genro (RS) and Mônica Seixas of Bancada Ativista (SP), besides many others, such as the three black women elected to the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro - Renata Souza, Mônica Francisco and Dani Monteiro, all collaborators of Marielle Franco's mandate - and also Erika Malunguinho, the first trans representative in São Paulo. In light of this, we believe that the possibility of defeating the extreme right necessarily involves strengthening the struggle of women, something that has been expressed not only in Brazil, but throughout the world. In this sense, we agree with the anthropologist Rosana Pinheiro-Machado's statement that "the extreme right won, but so did the feminists,", because reactionism has risen to power, but feminism has also been strengthened. This, however, does not mean that we can underestimate the strength of our adversary, but that the construction of a broad democratic resistance will only be possible if we can identify and catalyze the enormous transformative energy already gathered by the struggle of women so far.
Organisation OKDE TPT
Country: Greece
Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition? Yes it did. The call was issued by women’s organisations and some unions mainly in the public sector under the pressure of leftists unionists. But there was no actual involvement of unions. There is no national coalition, but there are either political or informal networks between activists nationwide. The movement is at the same time decentralised and dependant on the various left / anarchist coalitions and networks.
Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members? There was a call for an afternoon warning strike and for participation in the evening demo, but there was no real engagement and discussion.
What were the demands of the mobilization? Was there a manifesto? There were separate calls in different cities. In Athens the call focused on a variety of topics, from everyday sexism to labour rights, welfare and the effects of austerity. In recent years, one of the main axes for mobilisation in Greece has been gender violence, so this was also prominent.
Was the mobilization stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it take place? (Was it representative? Bigger? How much?) Every year it has been growing. There were calls in at least 3 big cities. The new element is that it now attracts the left, which was previously treating feminist claims as secondary and unimportant. Unfortunately, feminists seem unable to overcome the fragmentation and the sense of defeat that is widespread in the movement or to reach broader audiences. The limits are becoming clear.
Did it bring together rural and urban organizations? This is not relevant in Greece.
To what extent are black women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition? In Greece the question has been how to involve migrants, who are often undocumented and therefore hard to involve, and the refugees. There are some migrant women associations that are very active and have been part of feminist mobilisations for some time now, but due to the vulnerability of this population, further involvement is hard to achieve.
To what extent are indigenous women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the coalition leadership? It’s not relevant in Greece. To what extent are trans women's organizations or organizations that definitely include trans women involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the coalition leadership? There is not really a coalition leadership and all meetings are open and public. The largest union of trans women in Greece has been very active and known within feminist networks for some time now. But they generally follow their own path in activism. This year many smaller lgbt, gender, queer etc. groups participated in the mobilisations. Their involvement increased significantly after the brutal murder of a well-known gay activist last September in downtown Athens. To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they send only a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands? This is not relevant in Greece.
To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement? It was not part of the demands, but in general the feminist movement has supported solidarity calls to Palestine.
To what extent has there been a collective balance sheet of 8M 2019? In Athens there was a proclamation afterwards that the demonstration was successful. There were also calls for the 1st May and for the Pride in June.
To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will the Feminist Strike have a central place in the call? Considering the state of the Greek left and movements as well as the fact that there are general elections and the right wing will most probably win, this is too far in the future to tell. But we are positive.
To what extent is your political organization involved in this work? There have always been comrades actively involved, but the organisation in general underestimates the topic, so the work is carried out individually.
In some countries there has been a qualitative growth and change in the women’s movement in the last few years. Is this true for you? Has this led to a discussion that there is a new feminist wave? Is there a generation gap in the movement? A focus on different issues? A different language? Different methods of struggle and organization? Does this new movement pose itself as part of a global anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial alternative? Does it have international links (and with which other countries/organisations) How does it relate to traditional working-class organisations? To other social movements?
In Greece, a country with a weak feminist tradition and a huge generation gap, nation-wide feminist groups and networks have been gradually emerging in recent years. Although they seem to lack the strength and media attention that feminist movements have gained elsewhere, their appearance comes at a period of a generalized sense of defeat and regrouping among the Left- including strong sectarian tendencies. The main focus of the new feminist movement in Greece has been, similarly to many of its counterparts across the globe, the pressing issue of gender violence. Nevertheless, the multiple forms of gender violence are linked not only to structural oppression in abstract, but also to the specific forms this takes under the antidemocratic project of austerity and the implications of the crisis.
Due to the strong left tradition, feminism in Greece has developed in relation to the political left and therefore it has always identified the relations between class, gender and other forms of oppression and it always tried to articulate demands from the perspective of the oppressed / exploited majority. Antiracism, solidarity to lgbt struggles and working-class struggles have been part of the agenda of Greek feminism and still are.
More recent developments include the involvement of younger generations of women. They bring along new influences, discussions and language, but these are often learned through the Anglophone internet and academic feminism. Also, younger women are largely suspicious of the left, its organisations and its (usually male leaders), as they have been politicised in a conjuncture in which the left was in Government, implementing the austerity. On the one hand this invokes healthy reflexes, but on the other hand it echoes the disconnection from a long tradition of activism and radicalisation but with no new replacement. So far this (re)produces splits and fragmentation within the feminists, who don’t have the experience or the tools to handle different opinions and disagreements.
Organisation Internationale Sozialistische Organisation (ISO) Country Germany
Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition? There is a national coalition calling for the women’s strike and a nationwide mobilisation. Around the 8th of March regional massive demonstrations and imaginative actions took place.
Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members? There was occasional support from trade unionists, mainly from Ver.di, but no organizational support. Trade union organizations did not call for a women's strike, but they welcomed the mobilisations of women. Women’s strike was considered a political strike, which is not allowed in Germany.
What were the demands of the mobilization? Was there a manifesto? There was a central call which also included long list of claims. More here: https://umsganze.org/feminsm-classwar-frauenstreik/ and here: https://frauenstreik.org/
Was the mobilization stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it take place? (Was it representative? Bigger? How much?) Yes, there were mobilisations is 80 cities across the country.
Did it bring together rural and urban organizations? This has not been achieved yet.
To what extent are black women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition? There was a commitment to anti-racism, but non-white women did not have a leading role. This is also because there are only a few non-white women in Germany who are somehow politically active or organized.
To what extent are indigenous women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the coalition leadership? This is not important in Germany To what extent are trans women's organizations or organizations that definitely include trans women involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the coalition leadership? Trans-women were involved and brought along their particular issues.
To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they send only a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands? This is not important in Germany.
To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement? The topic was not present.
To what extent has there been a collective balance sheet of 8M 2019? The mobilization met the expectations and the idea of the women's strike is now better known than before.
To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will the Feminist Strike have a central place in the call? There will most probably be a coalition call again. The first meeting will be in September in Essen.
To what extent is your political organization involved in this work? Due to the so far low involvement of the organisation in feminist struggles, only few comrades are involved and individually. We hope that the seminar in Amsterdam will assist in engaging the organisation more actively from now on. In some countries there has been a qualitative growth and change in the women’s movement in the last few years. Is this true for you? Has this led to a discussion that there is a new feminist wave? Is there a generation gap in the movement? A focus on different issues? A different language? Different methods of struggle and organization? Does this new movement pose itself as part of a global anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial alternative? Does it have international links (and with which other countries/organisations) How does it relate to traditional working-class organisations? To other social movements? As in many other countries, an increased involvement is observed also in Germany, which includes a lot of younger women. The topics range from anti-sexism to the gender pay-gap, the inequality in employment and the distribution of care work. But it is still early to tell whether this tendency will continue.
Organization: Sosyalist Demokrasi İçin Yeniyol (New Course for Socialist Democracy)
Country: Turkey
Did the mobilization for 8M 2019 call for a Feminist Strike? Who issued this call? Is there a national coalition? No. But there were demonstrations in several cities.
Were any trade unions involved? To what extent? Did they send only a few representatives, or did they actually mobilize their members? Few of the leftist trade unions sent representatives. Historically trade unions in Turkey have been quite male dominated and their relationship with the women’s movement have been distant.
What were the demands of the mobilization? Was there a manifesto? End to violence against women and children, end to dictatorship, peace, recognition of LGBTI+ rights, end to conservative gender politics and oppression on women
Was the mobilization stronger than last year? In how many places (cities, regions) did it take place? (Was it representative? Bigger? How much?) It is not possible to compare with the last year as police intervened and did not let the women to hold track of the movement. Yet, in general, it is safe to say that more women participated, posted shares on social media and became aware of the mobilization.
Did it bring together rural and urban organizations? No. The mobilization included only urban organizations.
To what extent are black women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there black women in the leadership of the coalition?
There is no black women’s organization in Turkey. To what extent are indigenous women's organizations involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there indigenous women in the coalition leadership? There is no indigenous women's organization in Turkey To what extent are trans women's organizations or organizations that definitely include trans women involved? Which ones? What are their demands? To what extent are there trans women in the coalition leadership? There are few trans women’s organization in Turkey (Pembe Hayat, Trans Blok, Trans Danışma Derneği); trans women are also organized in other LGBTI+ organizations and they are the part of the women’s movement; but their representation is quite weak in women’s organizations and 8 March demonstrations, although it is getting stronger. Their main demands are end to violence and discrimination against trans women. Trans killings are also a big issue in Turkey, and it becomes a bigger issue since trans women are highly discriminated in the labour market and mostly do sex work which is one of the most unsecure jobs for women. Trans movement demands the recognition of hate crimes as political (there are some laws that are supposed to protect all women; however, the concept of hate crime is extremely unclear in the laws and most of the time implementation of these laws are in the hands of extremely conservative judges). Another important issue is the recognition of equality based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the Constitution.
To what extent do peasant organizations participate? Which ones? Did they send only a few people or did they really organize around the marches? What are their demands? They do not participate at all.
To what extent is solidarity with Palestine a demand of the movement? Solidarity with Palestine has never been a demand of women’s movement.
To what extent has there been a collective balance sheet of 8M 2019? Not a significant extent. There have been some meetings to evaluate the current situation and 8M mobilizations, however it does not seem possible to say that a comprehensive and collective balance sheet was put forward.
To what extent is the work for 8M 2020 being initiated? Will the Feminist Strike have a central place in the call? To a negligible extent. It seems like the Feminist Strike will be on the agenda of 8M 2020, but it’s not possible to assess to what extent it will have a central place from this day.
To what extent is your political organization involved in this work? Our Women Coordination actively participated in the preparations for 2018 and 2019 and also participated in the Feminist Strike to a larger extent. In some countries there has been a qualitative growth and change in the women’s movement in the last few years. Is this true for you? Has this led to a discussion that there is a new feminist wave? Is there a generation gap in the movement? A focus on different issues? A different language? Different methods of struggle and organization? Does this new movement pose itself as part of a global anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial alternative? Does it have international links (and with which other countries/organisations) How does it relate to traditional working-class organisations? To other social movements?
It is true for Turkey as well. Women have been in the forefront of almost every movement occurred in recent years. In addition, feminist movement have become significantly powerful movement compared to other movements, attracting women from all age groups (But mostly younger generation). Feminist issues have been mainstreamed among socialist organizations. But this does not led to a discussion on the new feminist wave. This is partly because women are still fighting for the very fundamental rights and freedoms like right to live and freedom of divorce. And most of the time we, our feminist principles, our very rights and discourses are under attack on a daily basis; this leads women’s movement to be on a state of emergency all the time, in a way that sucks the energy and will of the movement and traps it in a state of being non-stop alert. This does not only create less and less space for such discussions, but also (to some extent) set limitations for the movement in terms of being part of an international anticapitalist/antipatriarchal/anticolonial wave, restraining it in the local agenda arising from the attacks mentioned above. So, in terms of qualitative growth, developing new strategies, the general picture does not seem pleasant enough.
It can be said that a very important part of the women’s movement has also an anti-capitalist character; and women, and mostly feminist women are in the forefront of ecologist movement as well. But as stated above, most of the traditional working-class organizations are highly male-dominated in Turkey; although gender mainstreaming has recently been a part of their agenda to some extent.
Responses to the Questionaire on Party - English only
Brazil Comuna, Germany, Pakistan, Philippines, Denmark, Brazil MES, Brazil Subverta, Turkey, Britain, Portugal
Organization: COMUNA - Brazilian Section of the IV International. PSOL - Partido Socialismo e Liberdade (Socialism and Freedom Party). Brazil
Presentation: COMUNA is constituted by militants of the Socialism and Freedom Party (PSOL) that, as revolutionary marxists, have as their central objective the overcoming of capitalism by way of revolutionary movement and the construction of an eco-socialist and libertarian society - understood as part of the construction of human emancipation, the communist society.
We are an organization of women and men, workers, youth, LGBTIQ +, black people, eco-socialists, feminists, internationalists, anti-prohibitionists, abolitionists, militants of the Fourth International and of the Socialism and Freedom Party (PSOL).
The selection of March 8 of 2017 for the presentation of our Founding Manifesto was not random: the struggle of women all over the world inspires us to dispute the course of history, to refuse to accept and to fight always, in collective.
In recent years, we have witnessed an upsurge in women's struggles, whether for their rights, or the rights of broad sectors of the population; the mobilizing action of peasants, indigenous peoples and quilombolas in the defence of their territories became essential in the struggle for well-being; the great movements for the legalization of abortion have taken Latin America along with the uprisings against authoritarian and conservative regimes. COMUNA is committed to building the PSOL as a broad and democratic anti-capitalist and socialist party, together with other sectors, capable of contributing to the process of recomposition of the Brazilian and international left, to strengthen the struggle and organization of the working class and the oppressed, for the overcoming of capitalism on a world scale. For this, feminism is strategic and not conjunctural.
PSOL: http://psol50.org.br/ COMUNA: https://www.comunapsol.org/
1. In your statutes and /or resolution on functioning is there any mention of special measures to promote women’s participation e.g. - quotas or parity in leadership bodies The PSOL has a resolution that establishes the gender parity since 2013, and COMUNA establishes gender parity as a policy in its statute; the National Coordination of COMUNA has parity between men and women, and expresses the plurality of the organization: ethnic-racial, generational, regional, fronts of action and militant profile (trade unionists, militants of social movements, intellectuals, among others). - organization of speaking lists There are no lists of speakers promoting gender alternation in PSOL and COMUNA. - internal women-only meetings Women are self-organized in the PSOL through a national sector, with state and local operations.The same thing happens in COMUNA. - others The PSOL is the only party of the Chamber of Deputies with gender parity on its representation: five men and five women; the PSOL Parliamentarians presented a project called “Marielle Franco”, to ensure gender parity in parliaments; the national direction of PSOL is composed of 61 members, 18 of which are members of the Executive (elected in the 6th Congress of PSOL); the PSOL is one of the few parties in Brazil with gender parity (since 2013) and quota of 30% of blacks (since 2015) in all decision-making bodies, fruit of the great struggle of the party sector over the years; COMUNA participates in the PSOL with two female comrades, for one year the General Secretariat of the party was occupied by Tarzia Medeiros; now she and Ana Carolina de Andrade are members of the national directory.
2. Are these practised at: - national leadership level? Yes - local branch/committee level? Yes
3. Childcare - is this organized for: - national internal party events (leadership meetings, conferences etc) - Yes. - major public events? Rarely. - local party meetings? Rarely. - Is it organized every time or only on request? On request.
4. Sexism/sexual harassment and violence within the party: - Is this mentioned in your statutes/resolution on functioning?? The statute of COMUNA establishes that: any militant who does not comply with the obligations set out in its Statute and which has a position incompatible with the program and the values of the organization, may suffer the following sanctions: private warning, public warning, suspension and terminations. Allegations of infringement of the discipline, the programmatic profile and / or socialist values of the organization must be sent to the National Ethics and Disciplinary Commission on a confidential and written basis. Denunciations involving lgbtphobia situations, machism and / or racism must rely on the consent of the victim (s). - is there a specified procedure to deal with such cases? In COMUNA, complaints involving lgbtphobia, machism and / or racism must rely on the consent of the victim (s). It is important to mention that the PSOL Ethics Committee is active and informed in its first plenary meeting in 2019 that 75% of their cases regard machism, harassment and violence against women. - Is there a specific body to deal with it, is it: In COMUNA and in PSOL is the Ethics Commission that is in charge of the treatment these cases. - party control/disciplinary commission- Yes. - gender violence commission – No. - special commission constituted for each case: The current National Commission of Ethics of the PSOL consists of 7 people, being 4 women. Even so, the most recent resolutions of the PSOL determine that the National Commission of Women must indicate a member to accompany the development of processes that involve denunciations of machism, harassment and / or other violence against women.
5. Women’s work (activity in feminist movement and on feminist themes): - is there a specific body to organise this? In PSOL, there is a National Commission of Women that organizes the national sector formed by grassroots militants. In the Comuna there is a national sector of women. - is it elected, who by? The National Commission of Women of PSOL is formed by all political currents organized in the party. At PSOL, currently, Tarzia Medeiros represents COMUNA in this commission; and, Ana Carolina Andrade is part of the national communication committee of the women’s sector. At COMUNA we do not have a women's board or committee; all the companions of the COMUNA participate in the process of organizing intervention in the movement and / or party. - do all women on the leadership participate? A significant number of the women of COMUNA act as leaders in women and feminist movements (in addition to mixed movements) and/or are party leaders (local, regional and national levels). Many women organized in the national sector of the PSOL also act as leaders in social movements (mixed and specific) and also in the party. - do you have a specific publication The women of the PSOL do not have an specific printed publication such as a newspaper or magazine on a regular basis. However, the national sector publishes leaflets and other materials for national campaigns (March 8, against violence, justice for Marielle Franco, etc.). The national sector of women maintains regular publications on social networks to agitation and party propaganda based on the specific action of women (sectoral and parliamentarians). COMUNA has published (printed) some booklets for general and feminist formation.
Organization Internationale Sozialistische Organisation (ISO) Country Germany 1. In your statutes and /or resolution on functioning is there any mention of special measures to promote women’s participation e.g. - quotas or parity in leadership bodies, There is some consciousness about the need to have a 50 % quota for women. However there has been no agreement on the wording of a paragraph on “women in the ISO” at the founding conference or in the commission which had prepared the draft. So there is a gap in the statutes which should be filled at the next federal conference in November 2019. - organization of speaking lists Yes. But there is only one woman in the central leadership body called “Koordination”, with 16 persons since the last national conference in June 2018. It is the same with the “Sekretariat” (1 female member, 5 male members). So most of the time she does not make use of this point. During the national conferences or seminaries it is very usual however to have a separate list for women, who are given priority - internal women-only meetings There have been two meetings of this type: one extraordinary during a national conference (June 2017) and a meeting to which all members in the organization were invited (November 2017) - others No.
2. Are these practised at: - national leadership level? See above. - local branch/committee level? Rather not.
3. Childcare - is this organized for: - national internal party events (leadership meetings, conferences etc.) No more. - major public events? Not regularly. - local party meetings? As far as we know: no. - Is it organized every time or only on request? Sometimes on request.
4. Sexism/sexual harassment and violence within the party - Is this mentioned in your statutes/resolution on functioning?? No. - is there a specified procedure to deal with such cases? No. - Is there a specific body to deal with it, is it: - party control/disciplinary commission Yes. The ISO has a so-called “Beschwerdekommission” (Appeals commission) whose tasks are described in the tasks. - gender violence commission No. - special commission constituted for each case No.
5. Women’s work (activity in feminist movement and on feminist themes) - is there a specific body to organise this? No. Unfortunately there is no continuity in “women’s work” nor a coordinated work. - is it elected, who by? - - do all women on the leadership participate? - - do you have a specific publication No. Additional remarks The percentage of women in the membership is 19 % (and even less on the national leadership level, a bit higher in the editorial board of the monthly paper “Sozialistische Zeitung”, whereas the editorial board of the bi-monthly magazine “die internationale” is completely male). Again and again there is a lot of talk about the fact that the group is: overaged, has much too few women, much too few young and younger members, is too white. And it is not growing (neither declining in a significant way: the membership figures are stable). It is not easy to find a solution or even to do more than discuss the problems… di./wi.
Organization: Jammu Kashmir Awami Workers Party
Country: Azad Kashmir, Pakistan
1. In your statutes and /or resolution on functioning is there any mention of special measures to promote women’s participation e.g. - quotas or parity in leadership bodies, ....... Parity in leadership bodies but due to lack of women participation, male get increased - organization of speaking lists.....yes - internal women-only meetings....yes - others
2. Are these practised at: - national leadership level...... yes - local branch/committee leve...... yes
3. Childcare - is this organized for: not yet - national internal party events (leadership meetings, conferences etc) - major public events? - local party meetings? - Is it organized every time or only on request?
4. Sexism/sexual harassment and violence within the party - Is this mentioned in your statutes/resolution on functioning??.....Not yet - is there a specified procedure to deal with such cases?......Not yet - Is there a specific body to deal with it, is it: - party control/disciplinary commission. - gender violence commission - special commission constituted for each case ......yes
5. Women’s work (activity in feminist movement and on feminist themes) - is there a specific body to organise this?.... Not yet independent body in Kashmir but we contribute in alliance with Women Democratic Front (Pakistan based women organization) - is it elected, who by? - do all women on the leadership participate?....No - do you have a specific publication....No
Organization RPM-M Country PHILIPPINES
1. In your statutes and /or resolution on functioning is there any mention of special measures to promote women’s participation e.g. - quotas or parity in leadership bodies, - organization of speaking lists = - internal women-only meetings = - others
In the Party Constitution, participation of women is highly mentioned from the National leadership down to the party units. It commands the observance of balance participation of men and women in all political activities and organizational party functioning. We do not have quotas but always thrive for maximum 50-50 participation of men and women. In the national leadership body (CC), 1/3 are women commission members! Women participation in the party affairs is not yet been perceived as a big question by the membersbecause we have so many women members taking on important positions in the regional leadership bodies (RCs) and as heads in some of the different lines of works, except in the army organization. But even then, it is always an ongoing campaign within the women commission to help develop the women’s work of the army in the communities it operates.In our recent discussion in the women commission, we came up with a concept of rotational red-area immersion program for us to answer this call collectively because until now, this is a real and perennial challenge!
Our Women Commission is installed and functions at the national level, while at the regional leadership, apart from being headed by women, there are women commission representatives within the regional leadership bodies. There are also women commission representatives of the tribes/IPs, Bangsamoro and Migrant Settlers communities.
2. Are these practised at: - national leadership level? - local branch/committee level?; significant # of women sa leadership sa mga local branches/committees; defense - as discussed above - 3. Childcare - is this organized for: - national internal party events (leadership meetings, conferences etc) - major public events? - local party meetings? - Is it organized every time or only on request? The Party do not have yet a standard policy on childcare. We have diverse experience, however, like in one of our region (W), members of women commission practiced collective child-rearing. Some other instances, members with children requested for various help like to raise the urgent need for tuition fees, for medication, for accommodation in comrades homes so that children can go to school in urban centers,- temporary adoption for departed comrades, etc. During organizational meetings, we allow comrades to bring along the children, provided, it is safe for the security of the children. We also organized special transportation and accommodation arrangement for participating comrades with children.
4. Sexism/sexual harassment and violence within the party - Is this mentioned in your statutes/resolution on functioning?? - is there a specified procedure to deal with such cases? - Is there a specific body to deal with it, is it: - party control/disciplinary commission - gender violence commission - special commission constituted for each case The Party Statutes clearly stipulated provision for sexual harrassment and violence against any gender. We have Party Control Body who deals with this and the PCB also creates special bodies/commission for special cases.
5. Women’s work (activity in feminist movement and on feminist themes) - is there a specific body to organise this? - is it elected, who by? - do all women on the leadership participate? - do you have a specific publication
As mentioned earlier, we have Women Commission members who headed different lines of works and thematic campaigns (e.g. humanitarian, food sovereignty, peace, migration, etc.). There are positions that are elected during Party Congress and there are also positions that are collectively decided during CC Plenum. In some themes, women comrades assumed the positions out of a democratic, open space nomination and election. All our women members are involved in the different campaigns based on their expertise and concern. No, we do not have publication.
Organisation: SAP (Socialist Workers’ Politics) Danish section of the IVth
Country: Denmark
• In your statutes and/or resolution on functioning is there any mention of special measures to promote women’s participation e.g.
• quotas or parity in leadership bodies yes • organization of speaking list: Partly (mostly other forms of organising discussions) • internal women only meetings: Yes • others
• Are these practised at: • national leadership level: The national leadership is elected as a collective, and in the process of trying to create a list of candidates, the proportion of women takes a high priority. We rarely use the other measures. • local branch/committee level:
• Childcare - is this organized for: • national internal party events (leadership meetings, conferences etc) Yes, though not as a general rule for leadership meetings. • major public events: We almost never do those as SAP, only as part of the Red Green Alliance/Socialist Youth Front • local party meetings: This can be arranged as per request. • is it organized every time or only on request: For national internal party events it is always organized. For other smaller events and leadership meetings, mainly on request.
• Sexism/sexual harassment and violence within the party • Is this mentioned in your statutes/resolution on functioning Not specifically no. • is there a specific procedure to deal with such cases. • is there a specific body to deal with it, is it It is the party control commision and perhaps also through the bureau. • party control/disciplinary commision • gender violence commision • special commision constituted for each case
• Women’s work (activity in feminist movement and on feminist themes) • is there a specific body to organize that: At the moment not on a permanent basis, but temporary commisions can be set up. • is it elected, by who: Often by the national leadership • do all women on the leadership participate No • do you have a specific publication Not for feminist issues only.
Organization: MES Country: Brazil
1. In your statutes and /or resolution on functioning is there any mention of special measures to promote women’s participation e.g. - quotas or parity in leadership bodies, - organization of speaking lists - internal women-only meetings - others About MES, we have internal women-only meetings and we seek to ensure parity in all instances.
2. Are these practised at: - national leadership level? - local branch/committee level? In all this.
3. Childcare - is this organized for: - national internal party events (leadership meetings, conferences etc) - major public events? - local party meetings? - Is it organized every time or only on request? Childcare is organized for the national events, public or not, since it was requested.
4. Sexism/sexual harassment and violence within the party Is this mentioned in your statutes/resolution on functioning?? In our resolutions. is there a specified procedure to deal with such cases? There is. Is there a specific body to deal with it, is it: party control/disciplinary commission gender violence commission special commission constituted for each case Both. 5. Women’s work (activity in feminist movement and on feminist themes) is there a specific body to organise this? Yes, there is. is it elected, who by? Leadership meetings and conferences. do all women on the leadership participate? Yes. do you have a specific publication Yes, we have a periodical magazine and some booklets.
Organization : Subverta Country: Brazil
1. In your statutes and /or resolution on functioning is there any mention of special measures to promote women’s participation e.g. In in the freedom and socialism party (PSOL) , we have a 30% rule of women in the direction. We have a speaking list at local level . And we have a national coordination of women. In addition, we have national meetings of women and self-organized spaces.
2. Are these practised at: -All levels: national and local
3. Childcare - is this organized for: - national internal party events. yes. - major public events? yes - local party meetings? yes - Is it organized every time or only on request? On request.
4. Sexism/sexual harassment and violence within the party In the party, we have the national ethics committee that deals with cases of sexual violence and harassment. The commission is listed in the statute. The procedure is for the commission to analyze the case, listening to the victim, the accused and witnesses, then makes a report that is submitted to the National Directory. Sanctions may include expulsion, formation or suspension. Feminist formations are also provided for the men, the formations are in charge of the women's sector of the party.
5. Women’s work (activity in feminist movement and on feminist themes) Normally, the women of the PSOL act in the feminist movement, as in the constructions of March 8, in the struggles for the legalization of abortion, acts, etc.
Organization: Sosyalist Demokrasi İçin Yeniyol (New Course for Socialist Democracy)
Country: Turkey
1. In your statutes and /or resolution on functioning is there any mention of special measures to promote women’s participation e.g. - quotas or parity in leadership bodies Yes - organization of speaking lists Sort of - internal women-only meetings Yes - others
2. Are these practised at: - national leadership level? Yes - local branch/committee level? (Our organization is not a large one in numbers; we only have a secretariat, not local branches.)
3. Childcare - is this organized for: - national internal party events (leadership meetings, conferences etc) No - major public events? No - local party meetings? No - Is it organized every time or only on request? We never organized childcare until now.
4. Sexism/sexual harassment and violence within the party - Is this mentioned in your statutes/resolution on functioning?? Yes - is there a specified procedure to deal with such cases? Yes - Is there a specific body to deal with it, is it: Women’s Coordination - party control/disciplinary commission - gender violence commission - special commission constituted for each case
5. Women’s work (activity in feminist movement and on feminist themes) - is there a specific body to organise this? Women’s Coordination - is it elected, who by? Women’s Coordination includes all women who are actively members of our organization. - do all women on the leadership participate? Yes - do you have a specific publication Yes (Yeniyol) Organization Socialist Resistance Country Britain
1. In your statutes and /or resolution on functioning is there any mention of special measures to promote women’s participation e.g. - quotas or parity in leadership bodies Parity/quotas are not longer in our constitution as we were having difficulty meeting these. However the outgoing leadership makes a submission to the nominations commission in which the question of women’s representation is always a significant part - organization of speaking lists We don’t think we have codified this anywhere though many of us regularly raise it – combined with taking short lists to allow for more interactive discussion. Good idea - internal women-only meeting, The facility exists in our constitution for self organised meetings of any oppressed group. - others
2. Are these practised at: national leadership level? Women’s caucuses have met at leadership level and at one national conference but not for some time. There is an issue of double burden as women do a disproportionate amount of both internal and external organising
- local branch/committee level? Not in SR but they could be
3. Childcare - is this organized for: Childcare for internal meetings is specified in the constitution as something that should be discussed with any comrade with responsibility for children. No sure how consistently this is done especially when a male comrade has responsibility but their female partner is not a member. Most internal meetings take place on weekday evenings which are anyway a difficult time for collective childcare. For large external events would advertise availability but have to have strict deadline to register children because of strict legal requirements re ratios of staff to children
- national internal party events (leadership meetings, conferences etc) - major public events? - local party meetings? - Is it organized every time or only on request? 4. Sexism/sexual harassment and violence within the party - Is this mentioned in your statutes/resolution on functioning?? Sexism is mentioned together with other forms of discriminatory behaviour. There are no specific procedures to deal with sexual harassment. (It is probably worth noting that we developed our procedures the last time we had a particularly difficult case and probably most peoples’ attitude is that we would do that again if appropriate/necessary) - is there a specified procedure to deal with such cases? The process deals with all types of cases - Is there a specific body to deal with it, is it: - party control/disciplinary commission - gender violence commission - special commission constituted for each case We have a control commission but it is not a trial body but there to ensure that the trial body – either a branch or the leadership if the complainee is a member of the leadership. Our constitution specifies the control commission should be a majority of women – this clause was put there a long time ago with cases of violence against women in mind
5. Women’s work (activity in feminist movement and on feminist themes) - is there a specific body to organise this? - is it elected, who by? - do all women on the leadership participate? - do you have a specific publication We have no women’s commission or the like – but then we have no real permanent structures between branch and leadership for any area of work. However, comrades are actively doing feminist work mainly through the Labour Party and trade unions – including their women’s structures – where we are generally active. We have kept a watching brief on abortion work – where there have been dangers of the law becoming more restrictive – or in solidarity with Irish women organising to Repeal the 8th. So rather than organising the feminist movement per se, given the fragmentation of the movement we are active as socialist feminists as part of our general political work. We have no regular written publications – only our website and then our books. We have published two particular feminist books – one the FI resolutions on women and one Dangerous Liaisons by Cinzia Arruzza in collaboration with the IIRE.
Organization- Bloco de Esquerda Country- Portugal
1. In your statutes and /or resolution on functioning is there any mention of special measures to promote women’s participation For internal bodies Bloco de Esquerda has 1/3 rule for every list. For public representation it´s 50% ( e.g. list for general elections) Every two/three years Bloco de Esquerda organizes a nacional feminist meeting, to debate the public agenda concerning women´s rights and feminism. This event is organized mainly by women comrades which are part of the feminist movement or are connected with gender/women´s studies.
2. Are these practised at:
The 1/3 rule for internal bodies and the 50% rule for public representation are applied at a national and local level.
3. Childcare - is this organized for: - For national internal party events there is always a childcare area. - For some local party events the childcare area is organized only on request.
4. Sexism/sexual harassment and violence within the party Bloco de Esquerda has an independent body called Rights Committee elected every two years at the party congress. It´s an internal control body composed by 7 comrades. It´s a complaint channel and also the body responsible to manage all kind of complains (including the ones about sexism or sexual harassament).
5. Women’s work (activity in feminist movement and on feminist themes) There is no specific national body for the feminist work. There is an informal local feminist group within the party in Lisbon.