Two years after the division between the historically heterogeneous feminist movement materialized, the wounds remain open. And the appointment of a new Minister of Equality, the socialist Ana Redondo, seems that, at least in the short term, she will not achieve this either. Such is the confrontation between both factions: those against the trans law and in favor of the abolition of prostitution (the feminists more linked to the socialists), on the one hand, and those who support the trans law and avoid issues such as prostitution. and surrogacy (a movement very close to Podemos), on the other.
However, today after long months, voices began to be heard calling for unity.
The Madrid demonstrations have been the ones with the most participants, although less massive than in previous years: 2,000 according to the Government Delegation (25,000 according to the organization) in the first one and the largest in the afternoon (7,000 according to the Delegation and 50,000 , the conveners). And for the third year, divided into two: the first, those convened by the Madrid Forum against Violence against Women (they have been doing it for almost 30 years) and in the afternoon, those in favor of the trans law, organized by the Commission 8-M. In both, despite the differences, similar chants: “We are not all here, the murdered are missing,” “We are women, we want each other alive.”
The morning demonstration was attended by part of the socialist team of Sánchez’s Government, with the newly appointed Minister of Equality, Ana Redondo, making clear what her position is in this division over women’s rights. Along with her, the Government spokesperson, Pilar Alegría; the Minister of Science and Universities, Diana Morant; the Minister of Housing and Urban Agenda, Isabel Rodríguez; the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska; the president of the Congress of Deputies, Francina Armengol; and the former vice president of the Government and socialist deputy, Carmen Calvo, in addition to organic and institutional positions of the PSOE.
The new Minister of Equality has called for the “unity” of the feminist movement throughout Spain to “weave together the sensitivities” that have generated divisions in recent years and fight together against “all types of violence against women.” Redondo compares feminism to “a great orchestra” in which there are “different tones and sensibilities,” but what is truly “important is that the melody” is the same so that the “soundtrack” that it seeks to combat can be heard “loud and clear.” all violence.” To this end, she has announced that her first steps are to meet “with all the groups that have been distanced” in recent years, although she did not want to delve into the reasons that have caused the division within the feminist movement itself. .
The afternoon demonstration took place under the motto “Silence, impunity, violence are over. Today we come out for our pain, for our murdered companions. Not one less. All women suffer violence, but not in the same way,” said a spokesperson for the 8-M Commission.
Among her assistants, former minister Irene Montero, accompanied by her Equality team (Ángela Rodríguez and Victoria Rosell, among others). The former minister, acclaimed by those in attendance, has also appealed to the unity of feminism to combat gender violence, as did the Minister of Youth and Children, Sira Rego (Sumar). Vice President Yolanda Díaz has excused her presence due to minor health problems.
Montero has asked to “defend the right of women to live lives free of sexual violence, to live free lives now, to live without fear” and emphasizes that “silence is an accomplice to the aggressors.” In this sense, she has reminded women who suffer gender violence of any kind that they are not alone. “It is important that the word spread that all women victims of sexist violence have the right to a specialized psychologist or a lawyer even if they do not file a complaint.”
Minister Sira Rego, accompanied by deputies from Sumar, has been convinced that the feminist movement will once again be united around the same objective.
The Government has held an institutional event in the Plaza Sant Jaume in Barcelona. Also in Barcelona, ??as in all of Spain, there were demonstrations in which several thousand people participated. In Barcelona, ??they marched under the slogan “25-N. Prou Violencies Masclistes. “It’s over!” The feminist entities that organized this mobilization called for a common front “to the various forms and expressions of sexist violence.” Among the attendees, the president of Junts, Laura Borràs, who has defended the need to “denounce all forms of violence against women”, and the ERC deputy Raquel Sans, who has warned of denialism and the extreme right.
