Feminism calls for "building resistance" against sexist violence

BarcelonaAround 2,000 people demonstrated this November 25th in the streets of Barcelona in the two marches called by the feminist movement, which once again revealed its divisions, as had already occurred in the March 8th events. "It's not abuse, it's rape," "Long live the feminist struggle," and "I believe you" were among the most frequently heard slogans during the main march organized by the Feminist November collective. "We only see the tip of the iceberg, the murdered women. But violence is much more widespread, and it's important to support women and help them identify it in order to prevent it," denounced a spokesperson for the organization, lawyer Marisa Fernández, who also criticized the impossibility of fighting against the "machista julianzas" (a derogatory term for women who support women in the Juventud feminist movement) and the prevailing sexism.

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women was observed in several cities to denounce the rise of sexism and violence against women in a world where patriarchy has gained new strength with the rise of far-right political parties worldwide, which deny the existence of such violence. The UN General Assembly established this day of protest in 1999 to commemorate the murders of women. Dominican sisters Patria, Minerva and María Teresa Mirabal committed by the regime of dictator Trujillo on that same day in 1960.

In Barcelona, as already happened on March 8thOn that day, the movement manifested itself separately, divided by issues such as the recognition of trans people or prostitutionThe largest gathering is the one organized by November Feminist CollectiveAt 6 p.m. in University Square. Several activists read the manifesto, which was titled Let's weave resistanceThe impunity surrounding gender-based violence in all areas is denounced, including healthcare, digital violence, violence perpetrated by the administration, and vicarious violence.

This year, special remembrance has been given to Andalusian women who suffer from Disruption due to the delay in notifying mammogram resultsas well as for the victims of wars around the world. At 8:30 p.m. it was the turn of activists from Palestine, Afghanistan and SudanThe music of Escandalera, Donabeet, Masta Quba, Ketekalles and the #MeToo Choir will liven up the route of the demonstration.

The manifesto confirms how, despite laws, gender-based violence is a structural scourge that intersects with forms of racist, economic, institutional, digital, and colonial violence. The movement also raises awareness of often invisible forms of violence, such as...exploitation in care, the attacks perpetrated by members of the Church and other religions, hidden pedophilia and the impact of economic inequalities, which They place the burden of precarity on women and the child poverty.

The manifesto also accuses institutions of systematically failing victims, pointing to judicial revictimization, the collapse of social services, and the lack of implementation of protocols. In this regard, it denounces the lack of diligence in cases of institutional violence or against childhood, including those linked to the former DGAIA.

Among the main demands, feminists demand responsibilities from the administrations, the regularization and full rights for migrants and the effective recognition of all forms of gender-based violence, including digital, labor, institutional either obstetrics

They also demand a feminist justice system that prioritizes reparations, listens to women, and does not reproduce patriarchal structures; as well as the active participation of young women, their leadership, and access to safe spaces. The movement warns about the rise of hate speech from the far right, which attack consent and the sexual and reproductive rights and They criminalize feminism"We are not afraid. We stand up against violence. Let's build resistance. Because there is no peace without feminist justice," they conclude.

The other event is organized by the 8M Feminist Coordinating Committee, with a rally in Plaça Sant Jaume starting at 6:30 p.m. The slogan for this demonstration is "Fed up with impunity," a cry demanding "justice for the victims and punishment for the perpetrators." The protesters denounce the "ridiculous" sentences imposed by the courts on rapists, as well as the Ministry of Equality's failure to provide an accurate count of femicides and the lack of explanation for the errors in the electronic monitoring bracelets used to track abusers.