Thousands gather in Brussels for national women's rights march
Several thousand people marched through Brussels on Saturday afternoon in a national women's rights march to mark International Women's Rights Day.
The demonstration was an initiative of the feminist and anti-capitalist movement World Women's March Belgium, which used the action to warn of the "worrying regression" in women's rights and the "right-wing shift in society and politics".
"The pension gap between men and women is already 31 per cent and it will only increase with this government's measures"
Among other things, the movement pointed to the impact on women of a series of austerity measures by the new Belgian federal government, including the planned flexibilisation of working hours. This reform will mainly affect "flexible, temporary and part-time jobs, or jobs that are mainly held by women", they said.
Pension gap
"Minimum pensions are being cut, survivors' pensions and divorce pensions are under threat, all measures of which women will be the first victims," said representatives of the ACVV and ABVV unions. "The pension gap between men and women is already 31 per cent and it will only increase with this government's measures".
Other demands include the complete removal of voluntary abortion from the penal code, the strengthening of social security, the recognition of migrants' rights and the strengthening of the fight against all forms of gender-based violence.
MR booed
Several women's rights movements and trade unions took part in the demonstration. So did some political parties, although not all were welcome. A delegation from the French-speaking liberal party MR was booed and pelted with water under the slogan "MR, raciste, hors de la manif", forcing the party members to leave the demonstration.
A feminist village was set up in Brussels' Albertina square, near Central station, from 11.00 on Saturday, and a flash mob took place at the station at 13.30, "with the aim of denouncing violence against women and highlighting the strength and resilience of women", according to the march organisers.
© BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
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