On this day, 8 March, we the women gather in the public space of our villages, towns and cities in opposition against growing international misogyny, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia and racism, in the International Women’s Strike (IWS).  

For centuries now, and very strongly in recent months, we are raising our voices in unison to declare an emphatic NO against these systemic wrongs and violences. Yet we have been meeting consistently with insults and humiliations from our governments and their supporters.

Today, 8 March 2017, it’s time to declare: ENOUGH. No more.

Though not all of us can strike today, not all of us can walk freely into our streets to protest, though not all of us can even walk into our streets without being supervised by a man – dear sisters, fear not, we remember you and we raise our voices of protest also in your name.

We are women from 48 countries united in IWS and striking today across the globe. IWS is constituted not only of thousands of feminist organizations but in great part by local grassroots movements, and above all by individual women. IWS has been created for ALL women and EACH woman makes up part of IWS.

Today, bonded and united by the vital will to get what we deserve as human beings in our lives and for our daughters, sisters and friends, we continue in the 21st century the work our grandmothers set out upon in the 19th and 20th centuries in achieving for some of us voting rights, rights to study, the right to divorce, rights to perform in the professions we desire or to drive a bike or a car! But in the 21st century too many of us are still refused education or land rights because we were born girls, the work we do as mothers and carers is not recognized, poverty and financial dependence affects us more because we are women. For some girls human desire to live the way they want is taken away – even dreams of performing sports they want are forbidden.

Each of us across the planet-wide IWS organization is presenting on this day our list of specific demands depending on our local realities. But each and every one of us agree on: demanding human rights for women at every latitude and securing the freedom to decide about our lives and choices; that our oppressors must be persecuted and punished by law, instead of victimizing us and being protected by corrupt legal systems; separation of state institutions from the church, which is shamefully among one of our oppressors; equal economic benefits; pay equity; and fair and appropriate legal conditions in our reproductive lives, paid maternity time and a living wage.

We, the women, will not tolerate restrictions imposed on us by those who are in power any longer. United as at no other time in human history, constituting more than a half of the population on this planet and focused on the common good, will fight without ceasing until our demands are realized. The ruling powers have not agreed to submit to our call for rights, so now they must fear us.

Because we are the power.

We are invincible, we are everywhere, in every single corner and oasis of the globe.

Because we have the best weapon, Solidarity.