International Women’s Day with various campaigns in Switzerland
Published: Thursday, Mar 7th 2024, 08:41
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On International Women's Day on Friday, women will be holding various activities to draw attention to the shortcomings in their rights and equality. A reception for female activists is planned at the Federal Palace. Trade unions and women's organizations are also planning campaigns throughout the country.
Eva Herzog (SP/BS), President of the Council of States, welcomes around 300 women from all over Switzerland and from a wide range of backgrounds to the traditional reception at the Federal Palace. The focus of the meeting is on women's financial independence and the international security situation for women.
The program includes an exchange with President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd and ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric. Former Federal Councillors Ruth Metzler, Ruth Dreifuss and Simonetta Sommaruga and entrepreneurs Rosmarie Michel and Danièle Felley will offer workshops.
The employee association Travail Suisse and the trade union Syna present Amherd with the evaluation report on the revised Gender Equality Act.
Travail Suisse is planning various decentralized campaigns. The association wants to use flyers to draw attention to the blacklist of companies that disregard equality.
Still lower wages
March 8 is the International Women's Day of Struggle for Equal Rights and Wages, said Julia Maisenbacher, Central Secretary of the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions (SGB).
According to trade union figures, women's wages are still 43% lower on average than men's and women's pensions are a third lower. The trade union associations are calling for concrete progress, particularly in the areas of childcare and wage discrimination.
Various actions are planned throughout Switzerland on Friday. The trade union Unia, for example, is addressing sexual harassment in the hospitality and industrial sectors. "My body is not your beer" is one motto. A film evening is planned in Biel and a meeting of the feminist strike in Lucerne. In Zurich, there will be a trade union walk with stops at various restaurants. A rally against feminicide is also on the agenda.
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