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March 8th is International Women’s Day, a commemoration that has its roots in the early 20th-century labour movement. Since then, it has been commemorated in countries around the world, both as a celebration of women’s achievements and as an occasion to demand equal rights and denounce violence.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, women’s movements have been steadily gaining strength and momentum, and are some of the most visible movements for change in the region. And there’s good reason for this: Latin America and Caribbean women continue to experience elevated levels of discrimination, harassment, violence, and femicide. Women bear the brunt of the region’s crises, whether it be the COVID-19 pandemic, disasters like hurricanes or earthquakes, or armed conflict and gang violence. And perhaps because of this, women are at the forefront of movements for peace and nonviolence across the region, from liberal metropolitan centers to traditional rural communities; they are the ones documenting the needs of those around them, defending the rights of the most vulnerable, and lifting their voices for change at the local, national, and international levels.
This week, we’ll be posting and reposting articles and reflections from MCC programs in Latin America and the Caribbean about women leaders and women’s rights. We celebrate the extraordinary achievements of women working for change, and we recognize that there is much work still to be done.