Thousands of people marched through Brussels on Saturday afternoon to mark International Women’s Day and support women’s rights.
Organised by the feminist and anti-capitalist movement World Women’s March Belgium, the demonstration aimed to highlight the “alarming decline” in women’s rights and the “shift to the political right” in society.
The movement criticised the new federal government’s austerity measures for their impact on women. These include the planned flexibility of work hours, which will primarily affect jobs dominated by women such as flexi-jobs, temporary positions, and part-time roles.
Organisers also called for the decriminalisation of voluntary abortion, strengthening social security, recognition of migrant rights, and combating all forms of gender-based violence.
Various women’s rights movements, trade unions, and political parties participated in the protest. However, not all parties were welcome – a delegation from the French-speaking liberal MR party was jeered with the slogan “MR, racists, out of the protest” and pelted with water, forcing them to leave.
A “feminist village” was set up at Albertine Square near Brussels Central Station from 11:00, and a flash mob titled ‘Free Dance for Women’ took place at the station at 13:30.
The flash mob was created by female patients, carers, activists, artists, and citizens, led by contemporary dancer Catarina Campo. According to the organisers of World Women’s March, “the project aimed to highlight violence against women and emphasise the strength and resilience of women.”
