November 25th marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, a date commemorated by activists for women’s rights since 1981, and instituted by the United Nations Organization (UN) in 1999. In this day and in many parts of the world events, meetings and marches are organized to demand greater attention on the violence suffered by women.
In Chiapas, this year, on 24 November, women from different organizations gathered at a forum to discuss and share the situations of violence experienced by women. The next day, about 150 women, mostly from indigenous and peasant communities, as well as union members marched in the Chiapas capital, Tuxtla Gutierrez. They stood in front of the state capitol demanding that “our voice of complaint and demanding, given the gravity of the situation we are experiencing, especially rural women, indigenous and trade unionists” should be heard. Their statement claimed: “The extreme poverty and marginalization, a reflection of inequality and violence of the system, have placed us in a state of permanent anxiety, illness, pain and hunger, especially because our revenues have dropped significantly and prices have increased out of control. “ They emphasized: “we see the main cause of our problems in the privatization, plundering and marketing of our lands . Since women are not usually land owners, we have not been able to prevent sales that leave us and our children helpless. ” Finally they explained their decision to march in Tuxtla Gutierrez in these terms: “In protest in front of this extreme situation, we have decided to march in the capital of the state to tell the government, loud and directly, our requirements so that it complies with its obligation to give us security and ensure a dignified life for all people. “
In San Cristobal de Las Casas, several other women’s groups held a march-rally. They accused: “It is well known that violence femicide is exacerbated in contexts of militarization and war. Our country continues to have high levels of murders of women in all areas, whether at home, either in the crossfire of military checkpoints, whether as a result of historical political conflicts, whether as a result of poverty and hunger. “
Their demands included:
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“The cease of Calderon state terrorism which has swept the country for four years, increasing political violence against women and femicide.
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The punishment for those intellectually and materially responsible for the murder of our colleague Betty Honey, that despite being fully identified have not been arrested and prosecuted.
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Fot the state to assume its responsibility after the ruling of the Inter-American Court for Human Rights in the case of three young women’s murders in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua (the “Cotton Field” Case).
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The end to the persecution and harassment against social activists and human rights defenders, particularly against Margarita Martinez, who received a death threat yesterday.
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The systematic cease of all violence against women caused by structural inequalities that are characteristic of a patriarchal, capitalist, racist, classist and lesbophobic system.”
For more information:
Comunicado 25 de noviembre (Comunicado del 25 noviembre 2010 en Tuxtla Gutiérrez)
Conmemorarán día de lucha contra la violencia hacia las mujeres (Péndulo de Chiapas, 26 de noviembre)
Pronunciamiento Público (Marcha Mundial de las Mujeres Chiapas, 25 de noviembre de 2010)
More information from SIPAZ:
Chiapas: Meeting of Women in Resistance and Hope to defend Mother Earth and the land (November 10, 2010)
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