Strikes and Protests by Women on International Women's Day

Women across Europe and Asia took to the streets to celebrate International Women's Day, shouting demands for equality, respect, and more rights. Protesters in Spain staged a 24-hour strike, and cities like Manila, Seoul, and New Delhi were filled with demonstrators. According to the Associated Press, Spanish women held protests in dozens of cities against wage disparity and violence against women. A large demonstration is planned for this evening in Madrid, while in Barcelona, protesters were pushed back by police after disrupting traffic in the city center. However, in some other countries, International Women's Day protests were quieter. Although International Women's Day is a public holiday in Russia, small protests occurred, with Ksenia Sobchak, a presidential candidate opposing the government, being one of them. Sobchak protested alone in front of the lower house of the Russian parliament, calling for the dismissal of a prominent member accused of sexual harassment by several female journalists. The French newspaper Libération humorously raised its price by 50 cents for men on this day to highlight the 25% wage gap between women and men in the country. In downtown Manila, hundreds of activists wearing purple and pink shirts gathered, chanting against the country's president and labeling him the worst violator of women's rights in Asia. Human rights groups condemned the anti-women remarks of Rodrigo Duterte, the President of the Philippines, who once told soldiers to aim for the genitals of women members of communist rebel groups when shooting at them. In Afghanistan, women who feared leaving their homes during the Taliban regime gathered in Kabul to commemorate International Women's Day, reminding the country's leaders that much work remains to be done to educate women and protect them from violence. In Seoul, the capital of South Korea, thousands marched in black clothing, holding signs with the hashtag 'Me Too.' The 'Me Too' movement in this country has gained significant attention since a female prosecutor publicly spoke about workplace harassment in January, with more women coming forward daily about sexual harassment and mistreatment at work. In the capital of India, thousands of women, including students, teachers, and sex workers, marched in the city center. Despite India electing its first female leader in 1966, women are still often considered second-class citizens. Rex Tillerson, the U.S. Secretary of State, also emphasized in a statement on this day: 'As we celebrate International Women's Day on March 8, the United States reaffirms our steadfast commitment to addressing inequalities between women and men both domestically and abroad, and once again emphasizes the importance of advancing the status of women and girls around the world.' In Africa, the President of Uganda urged men to stop sexually abusing their wives. Domestic violence is widespread in Uganda, but victims often do not report these abuses to avoid being ostracized or shamed. The European Commission also stated on Twitter, 'Europe is one of the safest and most equal places in the world for women.' However, it reminded that 'there is still a long way to go to achieve true equality.' Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, regarded as one of the most powerful women in the world, said in a video message that the fight for greater equality between women and men must continue in Germany and around the world. She added, 'Many women before us have fought courageously and selflessly for rights, but much work still needs to be done.'