MESSAGE FOR WOMEN'S DAY
“THE CHALLENGE OF CARING for THE THREADS OF LIFE”
International Women’s Day has its origin in a tragic event on 8th March 1908. It is repeated again in 2022 in the midst of a health pandemic which has wreaked havoc in the economies and societies of the world. Also it has showen us the structural inequalities existing in all areas of our lives.
At this particular time of crisis women have been at the frontline inside and outside of the home. In the private sphere the vast majority of unpaid care work already falls on the backs of women, because of the pandemic this has increased. In the social sphere their role has been essential in running the soup kitchens, the organising of neighbourhood initiatives and health promotions. This has been done regardless of their personal resources and institutional capacity being limited, their rights unrecognized and threatened. Despite this work by women, social and protection systems have broken down with calls for help, complaints of violence and sexual abuse increasing. Women were left in conditions of greater vulnerability, with a rise of feminicides as the cruellest expression against them.
In this same vein, in terms of employment, it is undeniahle that all over the world women have been the most affected by dismissals and wage reductions before and during the pandemic, worsening the imbalances and the negative consequences. In fact, America had the greatest regional fall in women’s employment due to the pandemic. According to ILO data it is expected that in 2022 men’s employment will be recuperated at 2019 level (68,6% of working-age men with jobs), while working-age women’s employment will only be recuperated at 43,5%.
Therefore, women’s situation in the region remains gloomy. For that reason, it is urgent to straighten the ways, to rectify these historical inequalities, to break the silence and to build a more humane world. It is important to fight against other pandemics that keep killing women, so that they do not have to live in these most precarious situations.
In the midst of these deepening differences that affect women’s lives, the question to achieve solidarity and sisterhood is where is your brother? (Gn 4:9). In other words we will say to them where is your sister? Because if the voices of brothers and sisters cry out together voices will be raised, ears will listen and be heard. This has to happend to stop the violence against women and children who die because of injustice..
In this way as a World Movement of Christian Workers, we are called to present history every day. As Pope Francis says bearing witness to the Good News is also to build hope and to push back the violence and injustice. This is why we commemoration 8th March, International Women’s Day, for our sisters, with the love and the vocation of continuing to care for the threads of life, even if it means doing without comforts and costumes.
Message written by MCW Peru
