CARACAS- Supporters of the government, women’s movements and opposition in Venezuela celebrated 8 March International Working Women’s Day with different activities.
Feminist women’s movements, gathered in front of the Ministry of Justice, criticized the government for not taking adequate measures against femicide and violence against women, which resulted in the death of a woman every 31 hours in Venezuela, and reiterated its demand for the right to abortion.
Alejandra Martin, one of the representatives of the feminist organization Faldas-R, which fights for the legalization of abortion, told VOA Turkish that violence against women will continue, regardless of their political and ideological preferences, as long as men do not abandon their patriarchal way of thinking.
“Although there are laws protecting women in Venezuela today, the failure of judicial authorities and security personnel to overcome the patriarchal thinking is one of the reasons for the high rate of femicide in the country today,” said Martin.
At the rally organized by the ruling party, women expressed their commitment to the ex-president Hugo Chavez and his project, which ensured the widening of the scope of women’s rights and their constitutional guarantee.
It was reported that there were nearly 10 thousand women at the rally attended by women from the ruling party and employees in government institutions from different states of the country.
Ukraine emphasis from dissident women
The Ukraine issue left its mark on the demonstration of women from the opposition party. The demonstrators gathered in front of the United Nations pointed out that Ukrainian and Venezuelan women are victims of authoritarian regimes and their struggles for peace and freedom are similar.
Deyalitza Aray, a former MP and policy director of the Venezuela Project Party (PRVZL), spoken by VOA Turkish, said, “Venezuelan women today have become in need of humanitarian aid under an authoritarian regime. Even though we may not be under direct fire like our Ukrainian sisters, Venezuelan women are also fighting for democracy and freedom for their rights and their families, and our struggle is common.”