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Women with glasses half full

Ruth Clarke introduces a Labour Women Leading event on International Women’s Day.

At a time when powerful men are attacking abortion rights, and cutting Diversity Equity and Inclusion and overseas aid budgets in favour of ‘defence’, one might think that women have little to celebrate.  Yet International Women’s Day is still a time when sisters joyfully reflect on their strength and solidarity – and celebrate they do!  This year many events have taken place early because March 8th falls within both the Holy Month of Ramadan and the period of Lent.  It is very special when women get together to forget their everyday concerns and share company, food and music.

As political women, Labour Women Leading will mark IWD with an online event on Friday 7th March, starting at 7 p.m.  We will recognise progressive Latino leaders like President Claudia Sheinbaum in Mexico and President Xiomara Castro in Honduras.  We will also note the achievements of indigenous women like Minister Sonia Guajajara of Brazil, fighting to protect their communities as well as the Amazon rainforest.  Meanwhile, Hackney Councillor Claudia Turbet-Delof will also consider the likely negative impacts of Trumpism in America’s back yard.

Sawsan Salim directs the Kurdish and Middle Eastern Women’s Organisation, who have just celebrated the success of their Afghan Women’s Resettlement Programme in the London Borough of Islington.  Originally from Iraqi Kurdistan, Sawsan was active in the Women Life Freedom movement that saw global recognition following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in Iran.  She will reflect on the determination and bravery of her sisters in Kurdistan and elsewhere.

February saw a visit to the UK of Palestinians, mainly women, from the West Bank and East Jerusalem, organised by the Camden and Abu Dis Friendship Association.  We are all too well aware of their issues, but their positivity and resilience had to be seen to be believed.  Solidarity does matter, and Jewish Socialist Ruth Lukom will consider what further support can be offered by sisters in the UK.

Finally, we cannot forget our sisters in Africa, and their struggles with patriarchy and misogyny – not to mention war, displacement and hunger.  Let’s celebrate Farida Charity, speaker of the Yumbe District Council in Uganda.  A former community leader and peace advocate, she now uses her leadership position to advocate for peaceful co-existence between communities, and for mentoring and health services for women and girls.  Then there’s Glanis Changachirere, the founding director of the Institute for Young Women’s Development in Zimbabwe, now a movement with 7,000 members across rural and mining communities, which is promoting legislation to challenge the cultural inequalities and injustices borne by young women in the country.

Despite the many challenges, our sisters around the world do still have much to celebrate!  Please join us if you can on Friday 7th March.  You can register in advance here.

Ruth Clarke is Secretary of Labour Women Leading.