Today is the day of the VI International Feminist Strike, called by Rede 08 de Março, which also organises marches in Aveiro, Barcelos, Braga, Coimbra, Évora, Faro, Guimarães, Leiria, Lisbon, Porto and Viseu, under the motto “Feminists in unity against all oppression.”

As in previous years, the organisation expects “tens of thousands of people” to take to the streets to draw attention to “labor inequalities, precariousness, lack of support for parenting, fragile housing conditions, poverty and the unequal allocation of gender roles”, says Rede 08 de Março, in a statement.

“We protest against domestic violence, sexual violence, obstetric violence, harassment in public and private spaces in the workplace, the sexist justice system, transphobia, the trafficking of girls and women, the denial of sexual and reproductive rights, racism and xenophobia, among many other forms of gender-based violence that are based on the basic structure of our society”, they add.

They also highlight that the current context is one of inflation and an escalation of violence against women, which is why they believe that it is necessary to take to the streets to demand the expansion of the network of shelters, more social housing and more support for women and children who are victims of domestic violence, as well as the end of suspended sentences and “impunity” for the aggressor.

The collective calls for “effective penalties for aggressors of any type of violence”, the existence of offices to support the reporting of cases of harassment in universities and workplaces, and safeguarding penalties for companies that “allow moral and sexual harassment”.

They want “a policy of public awareness of harassment”, the end of precarious work, equal wages for equal work, “an end to attacks on parental rights and the reinforcement of social support for single-parent families and unemployed mothers”.

Among many other demands, Rede 08 de Março calls for recognition of the social value of domestic work and care, more training on the inclusion of LGBTQI+ people as health professionals, universal and effective access to voluntary termination of pregnancy or the end of all obstetric violence.

It also wants “the correction of prejudiced curricula, particularly colonialist biases”, the right to self-determination of bodies for all people, inclusive sexual education in schools, the end of racist and colonising policies or the “self-determination of bodies with functional diversity”.

“The International Feminist Strike, organised in Portugal by Rede 8M, aims to make International Women's Day a day of political struggle, focused on the most important demands of women and their full emancipation”, says the collective.

The International Feminist Strike has four axes – consumption, work, care and student – ​​and “arises from the process of articulation with other feminist movements in countries such as Spain, Italy and Germany”.

The 8 de Março Network is a national platform that brings together collectives, unions and individuals who mobilize for the construction of the International Feminist Strike, on the 8th of March, and other dates related to women's issues, such as the 25th of November.