Women mayors and councilors of the IOPD claim in this 8-M the feminist struggle and the struggle for effective equality in society, economy, and politics.
Discover the testimonies of local women leaders in cities around the world ahead of International Women's Day 2021, which under the theme "Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world", celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Clara Brugada, mayor of Iztapalapa and co-president of the IOPD says "it is about displaying, reflecting and fighting against inequality towards women" and recalls all her commitments as mayor to achieve equality and fight to eradicate violence against women.
Nelly Ouassenan, deputy mayor of Cocody, Abidjan, Ivory Coast, representing the other co-presidency, launches a message of struggle and hope, and points out that despite the impact of COVID-19, which is particularly hard on women, "we must not lose heart, we must persist in the struggle for equality".
Joana Balsemão, councilor of the Cascais City Council, explains how her local administration places participation as a fundamental axis of its action, especially with the experience of the participatory budget in which women participate actively as much as men.
Émilie Thuillier mayor of a district of Montréal and head of democracy in the municipal government of Montréal claims the importance of gender equality in a city that has had a woman mayor since 2017 and uses a gender analysis tool to implement all public policies.
Chloé Le Bret, Grenoble councilor in charge of Equal Rights, also emphasizes that the pandemic meant a worsening of the situation of women, especially with regard to the increase in violence and poverty. She also highlights the work carried out by her government and stresses the importance of working collaboratively.
"Together we can build real equality policies, together with associations, feminist communities, and inhabitants".
Pilar Díaz, mayor of Esplugues de Llobregat, pays tribute to all the women who have been at the forefront of the fight against the pandemic and encourages to continue the fight for effective equality and to "remember that every day of the year is March 8".
Dominique Ollivier, president of the Office de Consultation Publique de Montréal, vindicates the pioneers who fought for equality and, from her work to promote citizen participation, emphasizes that "we continue to work daily on issues of women's participation, on how to eliminate their obstacles to participation, because it is clear that when we do not listen to the voice of women, it is a great loss for our society."
Paula Marques, councilor for housing and local development of the Lisbon City Council commemorates the struggle of so many women to achieve better living conditions in so many areas and insists on the fight against discrimination and inequalities.
"Every March 8, and March 8 is every day we get up and go to the fight!"
Claudia Acebrón, councilwoman in the City Council of Esplugues de Llobregat, being in charge of the areas of Civil Rights and Development Cooperation and deputy in Women's Policies and uses of time also recalls that every day should be March 8 and that "future and feminism must go hand in hand".
If you want to share your testimony, you can send us a video to info@oidp.net
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