This Wednesday (8), 8M brought together several feminist and popular movements in a Unitary Act to highlight the main claims related to gender in Pernambuco. The gathering took place in Parque Treze de Maio, downtown Recife, and ended in front of the Palácio do Campo das Princesas, seat of the state government, where there was a dialogue with Governor Raquel Lyra (PSDB).
The first female governor of the state, the manager has been the target of criticism by feminist movements, which point to the negligence in gender equality policies, to the lack of dialogue and representation of social movements in her management.
Daniele Braz, anti-racist feminist activist from the Pernambuco Women’s Forum and the organization Grupo Curumim, indicated that in more than 60 days of management, Raquel Lyra was silent about the Action Plan for women. “It is urgent that she start creating and implementing (gender) public policies. Yesterday, it was the first time she answered any questions and only because of the pressure from women in front of the Palace. And if she does not respond to the proposals, we there will be more pressure”, he stated.
In the streets, plural movements were present, such as the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST), which had already been camping in Derby Square since March 6; the Pernambuco Black Women’s Network; Liberta Elas, Articulation and Movement for Transvestites and Transsexuals of Pernambuco (Amotrans-PE), Marcha das Margaridas and others; in addition to trade unionists, such as public servants and teachers from the Union of Workers in Education of the State of Pernambuco (Sintepe).
Read here: Participation of women in the Lula government is among the main agendas of March 8, 2023
All of them marched under the motto “Women in the streets against: racism, femicide, transfemicide, mass incarceration, for the legalization of abortion, for a popular democracy and no amnesty for coup plotters”.
Dialogue with Raquel Lyra (PSDB)
Raquel Lyra (PSDB) met the act in the street and, shortly after, returned to the Government Palace / Photo: Lucila Bezerra/BdF PE
Collectively, a unit manifest, a document that gathered the main gender guidelines in the state, to be delivered to the governor. “When we arrived at the Palace, we tried to negotiate entry, we wanted to talk. Certainly, because of our pressure, she went down to talk”, reported Gleisa Campigotto, from the National Coordination of the Popular Brazil Movement.
Initially, the idea was for the leaders of the organizations to enter the Government Palace, something that had been previously agreed with the governor. However, the management did not agree to receive more than 20 people in the Palace, something that the movements did not give up in order to guarantee the plurality of the feminist movements present.
“Unfortunately, she ended up taking another path, she ended up turning the tables, as if she were a feminist, as if she had participated in the act, and that’s not what happened”, says Liliana Barros, member of the Rede de Mulheres Negras de Pernambuco.
In the midst of the crowd, the document with the demands of the movements was read. At the time, the governor proposed the creation of a Working Group (GT) to establish public policies on the guidelines delivered, without giving details.
“A large part of what is placed here is in our Government Plan, but taking it off paper and turning it into reality requires a lot of effort”, said the governor. During her speech, Raquel reinforced that 52% of the government is made up of women and was interrupted by speeches questioning the lack of black women in the secretariat.
Liliana Barros fears that this WG will not be effective and criticizes the first months of state management. “There are, effectively, racial equality policies, especially for black women, you just have to look at the current governor’s secretariat. I don’t agree that this will actually happen because the line of this government does not match feminist women. So this WG will not have our face,” he criticized.
Read it here: Secretariat of Raquel Lyra (PSDB) has only two black women; check list of 27 folders
Despite this, Gleisa Campigotto reinforces that the 8M represented an important milestone in the struggle of women and in the fight against fascism and emphasized that the demands will not stop. “Our fight is not just in the 8M. This is a historic date, but our fight continues throughout the year to demand from the State a life without violence and with your rights guaranteed”, she concluded.
Women’s Week in other regions
In Cabo, the event gathered an audience of teenagers, young people, women leaders and representatives of social organizations / Photo: Marcelo Ferreira
In Cabo de Santo Agostinho, the 36th edition of the traditional March 8 Walk was held, organized by the Centro das Mulheres do Cabo (CMC), with the theme “Women and Girls for the Strengthening of Democracy and Guarantee of Rights”.
“Our walk brought together more than a thousand women. Women from the countryside and the city, peripheral, black, trans and women from the communities we work with were present”, reported Izabel Santos, Coordinator of the CMC. The traditional party was marked by cultural activities, political speeches and was also attended by parliamentarians; artists from the local scene and sports women. “Unfortunately, we can’t just celebrate with a party, we demarcate this place of claim”.
In Petrolina, the #8M happened with a cultural moment, under the organization of the Associação das Mulheres Rendeiras, in the peripheral neighborhood José e Maria. The event, named “Batucando com as Rendeiras”, was a space for celebration with the women of the community.
In Garanhuns and Caruaru, the programs are planned for Saturday, March 11th, where both municipalities have planned activities. In Caruaru, the Frente Feminista do Agreste organizes a parade with the block Nem Cá Mulesta, leaving the Grande Hotel at 8 am. In Garanhuns, there is a walk with a concentration at 08:00 in Praça da Fonte Luminosa, with the motto “On the Street Against Fascism, Women Sustain Life”.
Source: BdF Pernambuco
Editing: Elen Carvalho
