About 5,000 persons gathered around Place de l’Albertine in Brussels for a march for women’s rights on Wednesday, International Women's Day, according to a headcount by the Brussels-Capital/Ixelles police zone.
The procession then moved to Place Poelaert before returning to the starting point.
This year, the Global Feminist Network of the World March of Women has decided to focus on the economic violence that affects women, amid the current energy and purchasing-power crisis.
“Women find themselves economically dependent on their partners and in a situation of precariousness (due to) state economic policies,” the organisation denounced.
Several women from different associations, committees and trade unions spoke on stage before the march began.
Marie-Hélène Ska, secretary general of the Christian trade union, CSC, praised Belgium and its stance against sexist and sexual violence, while pointing out that there was still a long way to go before equality between women and men is achieved.
Other women also called for support for Congo's women as well as undocumented women in Belgium, highlighting their precarious situation.
The World March of Women called for measures to address the energy crisis that integrate a gender dimension and “benefit women as much as men” and for sufficient and sustainable public funding mechanisms.
Many of the associations, collectives and committees taking part in the march were mixed, but all shared the same demand: equality between women and men.
A similar demonstration had also attracted nearly 5,000 people last year.
