a referendum in Ireland and feminist parades in Argentina

International Women’s Day is an opportunity for the Irish to review the place of women in society through a referendum. The Argentines are demonstrating against the new president Milei who contests the right to abortion. Our correspondents on site tell the story.

In Ireland, a referendum is planned for this International Women’s Day, to modify certain provisions of the Constitution. March 8 was chosen as the voting day to remove a clearly sexist article, granting “domestic duties” to women. It is also an opportunity to recognise, perhaps finally, the valuable role of carers within Irish society.

In Argentina, March 8 sees tens of thousands of women in the streets and a common desire to resist against President Milei and his latest provocative statements on abortion. Faced with the brutal economic adjustment imposed by its government, the slogan of the demonstrations in Argentina is therefore the fight against the food crisis, poverty, but also against the attempted repeal of laws such as that of abortion or of gender equality.

In Ireland, a double referendum on the place of women and caregivers

In Ireland, the idea is to reformulate article 41.2 of the Constitution, which refers to the “duties of women in the home”. It stipulates that the State must ensure that mothers are not forced to work for economic reasons, to the detriment of their domestic duties. ! A text from the 1930s which reflects the strong influence of the Catholic Church in the country.

If the yes vote wins, the referendum will therefore make it possible to affirm that a woman’s place is where she wants it. “Irish women protested against this article as soon as it was inserted into the Constitutionrelates Rachel Coyle, campaign director of the National Council of Women in Ireland, and we have never stopped opposing it. We finally want to change its restricted and outdated vision of the role of women. Because since this text, Ireland has been considerably transformed.”

The definition of the family is also at stake with today’s referendum, which could make it possible to expand it beyond marriage and recognize single-parent families or those of unmarried couples. “If you are not married, you unfortunately have fewer rightsexplains Claire O’Connell, member of the LGBT+ Parents Alliance. So voting ‘yes’ will allow for a more inclusive definition. It remains to be defined, but we could speak of a ‘long-lasting relationship’ rather than a ‘married couple’.”

“The State must strive to support caregivers”

This two-part referendum will also be an opportunity to replace this archaic language with recognition of the immense contribution of caregivers within families, who look after disabled children and elderly and/or ailing parents. : a role assigned to women most of the time, it must be admitted ! Regardless, it is a role that deserves careful consideration, even if according to some caregivers, the wording of the new article on care is not restrictive enough for the State. Despite everything, Rachael Walsh, professor of constitutional law, wants to believe in an important first step : “There are not many provisions in the Constitution which impose an obligation on the Stateshe notes. Certainly this obligation is weak, it is written: ‘The State must endeavor to support’, but it remains an obligation !”

In a country with a strong Catholic tradition, the Irish have already largely voted in recent years to relax legislation on abortion and authorize gay marriage. A double “yes” in today’s referendum would therefore go in the direction of this liberalization of society.

In Argentina, Javier Milei’s pro-life position endangers the recent legalization of abortion

In Argentina, the word “resistance” is very often used by feminist movements to describe their current struggle. The new president Javier Milei regularly attacks feminists, since his years as a deputy, then during the presidential campaign and again today as head of state. Latest example, Wednesday, during a speech given in his former college: “What politicians do is go into debt and leave the bill to future generations, and even to those who have not yet been born. Some also try to kill them before birthcastigated the president. I’m talking about the green scarf assassins. You know that to me, abortion is aggravated murder because of the bond between mother and child. And I can demonstrate that from a mathematical, philosophical, liberal and of course biological point of view.”

These statements are in addition to his political will to repeal the law for legal abortion, a law passed on December 30, 2020 after almost 15 years of struggle. Javier Milei’s pro-life position is one of the central points of his political project. And a month ago, a member of her party already submitted a project requesting an exemption from this law. For feminists, whether in Congress or more silently, the government will do everything to achieve its ends.

“They can hinder the right to abortion more easily”

Lula is a volunteer with the “Reseau de first aiders” association, which supports women who have abortions. He warns of an extremely fragile situation according to him: “They can hinder the right to abortion more easily and quickly than through a political and social debate to override a law. For example, by reducing spending, they can prevent the material from arriving at health centers , such as medications, surgical equipment or contraceptive methodshe explains. That’s why we’re always on alert. In addition, the president constantly provokes us by designating feminist movements as a public and internal enemy. It is an authoritarian and fascist practice which unfortunately already took place in Argentina, during the dictatorship.”

Until now, given the economic measures taken since December, the demonstrations have mainly been called by social organizations against inflation – 55% in 3 months -, devaluation or layoffs. Today, March 8, is really the first time that feminist movements have manifested themselves. For the defense of legal abortion but also and above all against economic adjustment of which women are mainly the victims.