International Women’s Day, that has its origin in a tragical event on 8th March in 1908, we receive it again in 2022 in the midst of a health pandemic which has wreaked havoc in the economies and societies in the world and, at the same time, it has showed us the structural inequalities in the development in all areas of our lives.
In this particular time of crisis, women have been at the frontline inside and outside the home. In the private sphere, more than three times the hours of unpaid care work already fell on their backs, the pandemic increased them; and, in the social sphere, their role has been essential in running the soup kitchens, the neighbourhood self-organising, the health promotion, in the neighbourhoods, even when the personal resources and institutional capacity have been limited and the rights recognized, have also been threatened. Despite this work by women, social and protection systems were broken up and calls for help, complaints of violence and the sexual abuse have increased. Women were left at the expense of domestic violence in conditions of greater vulnerability, taking place a rise of feminicides as the cruellest expression against them.
In this same vein, in terms of employment, is undeniahle that all over the world, women have been the most affected by dismissals and wage reduction 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 job), while working-age women’s employment will only be recuperated at 43,5%
In such case, women’s situation in the region remains gloomy. For that reason, it is urgent to straighten the ways, to rectify those historical inequalities, to break the silence and to builf a more humane world. It is important to fight against other pandemics that keep killing women, so that they stop living in the most precarious space.
In the midst of these deepening differences that try to break life, the question that can set the solidarity and sisterhood standard is where is your brother? (Gn 4:9), or said in another way we will say: where is your sister? Because if the voice of brother’s (sister’s) blood cries out to God from earth nd, there will be to do the attempt of, having ears, to listen the cry that is expressed before the violence against women and children who die before the injustice.
Lin this way, from World Movement of Christian Workers, we are called to do present in history every day. As Pope Francis says, we have the task of “not balcony the life, getting in it, as Jesus did”. Bearing witness of Good News is also to builg hope and to push back the violence and injustice. That is why the commemoration of 8th March, International Women’s Day, we do it approaching to our sisters, with the love and the vocation of keeping caring the threads of life, even if it means to letting out comforts and costums.
Message written by MCW Peru
-------------------------------------
PRAYER FOR WOMEN’S DAY - 8th MARCH
GOD OF LOVE,
we know that man and Woman you create us
whether Man or Woman, you love us,
from the beginning of creation!
GOD OF RESPECT,
We know that from the beginning of times
You respect all and each of us
With our differences and our complementarieties!
GOD OF JUSTICE,
We know that your Son Jesus knew to listen
rejected, harmed, exploited, unloved women
And we know that doing it he astonished, even scandalized!
GOD OF LIFE
give us the courage to follow your Son’s steps
give us the strength to show respect for all life,
And on all ocassions.
We ask you GOD: our FATHER and Our MOTHER
For ever and ever! Amen
Prayer of Bernard ROBERT
WMCW Chaplain
-------------------------------------------------------------
