FMJD : Déclaration pour la Journée internationale des droits des femmes 2018

On the occasion of the International Women's Day, the World Federation of Democratic Youth express its total respect for the sacrifices of the heroic women, of the women of the textile industries of New York that stood up and fought for their rights in the year of 1857, and to all the women’s heroic sacrifices that followed in every part of the world.

By that period of history, in New York, the women were working under very hard and inhuman conditions for more than 16 hours per day and with very low salaries. Their decision to proceed to a strike meant their aim to create a future that will guarantee their rights and their dignity. Further one of the main demands was the equality with the men working in the same industry. The fair and just demands of the women confronted with the violence and repression implemented by the security forces. Later the history proved that in every struggle in the world the women were an integral part in it.

Today after 161 years we see that the rights of the workers and the young people are being destroyed, we see poverty, hunger, malnutrition, lack of access to potable water and electricity that affects millions of human beings in several parts of the world. All the above were intensified with the outburst of the capitalist crisis. Moreover, 161 years after, women in the world are still facing inequality in a lot of occasions and on the same time they are also facing the aggressiveness of a system that gives birth to human exploitation. Just to note here the recent decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union that considered “legal” the firing of pregnant women as a part of the mass firings. Consequently, in nowadays there is a double burden against the women.

The day of the 8th of March is historical and must remind not only to the women but to all of the people that the conquered rights must be protected and defended. We call the women of the world to become one of the most militant part in the struggles of the peoples for peace and social justice against imperialism. We also highlight the necessity of the struggle of the women that needs to go hand in hand with the struggle of the youth and the workers.

On Behalf of WFDY

The HQ of WFDY

Budapest

March 8, 2018