Today, 8 March 2013, the Party of the European Left joins the international day for women's rights. This issue should be a priority in Europe, where austerity policies reinforce patriarchal domination as well as capitalist domination.
Women are now paying very hard consequences of the financial crisis and the austerity policies. They are the first victims of precariousness, unemployment and their wages remain, even for equal competence, much lower than those of men.
With the privatization of public services, women are more and more obliged to fully support young children and the elderly as well as the essential acts of solidarity, which are normally missions of the welfare state. With the closure of hospitals, maternities and expensive access to heathservices, the right to dispose of their body is physically prevented, when it is not under pressure of groups with backward ideas, like "pro life" organisations.
In the 21st century, women are graduated, more free and willing to take high responsibilities, including political ones. The fact they are condemned to insecurity or staying at home to save the banks, is a terrible decline of civilization.
Much remains to be done for real equality between women and men, both in terms of wages, social and political rights, as well as the sharing of daily tasks. Women, like men, members of the Party of the European Left, by proposing an alternative to austerity, are fully involved in this fight.

Party of the European Left
March 8, 2013