European March of WomenCWIUp to 25,000 women assembled in Jubel park, Brussels on Saturday, 14 October, for the end of the European leg of the'World March of Women 2000'. It was part of a protest organised by women's groups and Non-Governmanetal Organisations world-wide under the main slogan 'End Poverty and Violence'. As expected, the political colouration was nothing if not diverse! Alongside Belgian Catholics and Galician nationalists were French left trade unionists (Sud) and Portuguese public sector workers of the 'communist'-led CGTP. Groups of women from many parts of Asia, Africa and Latin America were also there to make their voices heard. There was colour, music, masks and drums, a range of imaginative and defiant placards and a special song sheet compiled by the organisers of this international protest. The 'World March of Women' was launched on March 8 - International Women's Day - this year. The culmination is mass demonstrations in New York and Washington, with delegations from every continent presenting a long list of demands to the IMF, the World Bank and the United Nations. They call for all the inequalities and injustices suffered by the female half of the world's population to be righted without delay. They address themselves to the rich and powerful and call on them to share their wealth with the world's poor and to bring to an end all wars, oppression and inhumane treatment of women. Unfortunately, this is a bit like asking the fox to stop chasing the chickens! The Committee for a Workers' International, in its leaflets produced for these marches, makes this point. It explains the need for a struggle on all the issues affecting working and young women but also for channeling their anger into a fight against capitalism itself. These demonstations of women must be seen in the context of a growing trend to organise international anti-capitalist protests. First it was Seattle, then Washington, Melbourne and Prague. Next stop - Nice in December! The CWI stall at the Brussels women's demonstration was constantly busy with people from numerous countries expressing an interest in the politics and work of the International. More than 150 of the special leaflets were sold, along with other literature (and sandwiches!). About 30 people gathered for a CWI meeting after the march in a nearby cafe. Issues related to the women' s movement were gone into from a socialist point of view. A glimpse was given of the work done by the CWI world-wide, especially its women members, and points were also made on the unfolding dramas in Israel and Serbia. |