Feminist Anti-austerity Protest!

To:

Citizens

National Parliaments

Governments of EU countries

European Parliament

European Commission

United Nations Women’s Agency for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment

In these dark times of imposed austerity, we denounce the neo-liberal "answers" that worsen women's labor and social vulnerability. With these measures, for many people, particularly for women, there will be a rise in unemployment and its duration, job insecurity, wage inequality between men and women, the gender differentiation in terms of reforms and pensions . Given this, the scale and impact of poverty will be even more overwhelming.

We protest against cuts in public investment, for example the budget cuts in

education, in sexual and reproductive health services, the dismantling of equipment and care services for children and elderly people , the commodification of access to housing. We do not underestimate the effects these measures have and will have on women's lives.

We here by state that austerity measures, in particular those that jeopardize the economic empowerment of women and autonomy increase their vulnerability to gender violence.

We protest against the worsening of inequality and the attack on labor rights, as well as the rights gained with the experience of motherhood and fatherhood.

We denounce that problems that are specific to women’s situation at work, family or social level may be considered secondary or even completely deleted in times of crisis.

We call your attention to a worsening of inequality in time use of men and women in the family, emphasizing the cultural attachment of women to the sphere of

reproduction and the detachment of men from care and responsibility in material and emotional issues, in the tasks concerning house, children, the elderly and the family

We denounce the neo-conservative thought of austerity, seeking to impose values based on the "return of women to their home", and welfare policies of the family and of assistance that promote the submission of individual rights to a single

family model.

We protest against the binary discourse on women: on one hand women as the decisive agents in household saving, on the other hand the exclusion of women from public critical discussion about the crisis, particularly in terms of the media, and the search for alternative forms of facing it.

We call attention to a neglected dimension of the effects of the crisis on

subjectivities, generating feelings of insecurity, fear for the future, depression, isolation and breaking of social links.

We alert people to the atmosphere of fear, insecurity and despair that prevails and does not give any contribution to end this crisis.

We warn to the myths and hegemonic, complacent and self-defeating narratives that address the financial markets as "neutral" and "innocent" instances and tend to legitimate the current austerity policies which are based on a competition,

maximization and centralization of profit ideology, rejecting any social

responsibilities.

We protest against the dominant conceptualizations about economy and labor that exclude women from the sphere of productive work, which is not put into practice in the “traditional” spaces of work, such as factories, offices, etc..

We denounce the double, sometimes triple discrimination of which transgender women are victims, as well as migrant women, lesbians, women with disabilities and women whom basic citizenship rights are still denied and who are directly

affected by these recessive policies.

We protest against the lack of control of millions of people over their own

subsistence.

WE DEFEND

The constitution of citizens to audit public debt and austerity plans, and theseinclude an analysis of its impact on women's lives.

Alternative policies to imposed austerity - social justice policies, policies to

stimulate employment, non-discriminatory policies, emancipation, that ensure

social and labor rights and new ways to economic and social development.

Development, both at political and public level, of a culture to dignify work with rights in all spheres of life.

Inclusion of the gender equality dimension in all policies.  

Support to the development of economic alternatives that put the sustainable

development of human life, environment and collective wellbeing in the center of the economic and territorial organization.

WE COMMIT TO

Provide visibility and contribute to women's participation in social protest

movements against a dehumanizing and inhumane policy.

Contribute to the creation of mechanisms of representation of movement of

citizens, namely women, to critical, moral and democratic scrutiny of political and financial choices that are putting our lives at risk.

Subscribe critical perspectives that are contrary to the dominant narratives,

establishing a close relationship between the functioning of markets and

democracy.

Acting on social networks, feminist or others, in the process of dissemination,information and cooperation about the problems of women as well as women's struggles.

 

Reinforcement of feminism as an active process in the critical and strategic field

for change, in connection with other social movements.