Millions of women around the world took to
the streets Sunday to mark International Women’s Day.
In Mexico City, at least 60 people were wounded
as riot police confronted protesters.
Tens of thousands of women blocked the city’s
main streets carrying signs that read “You’re
killing us” and “We want to live without
fear.”
Others carried purple crosses with the names
of victims of femicide.
Today activists are calling for women across
Mexico to stay out of public life and not
participate in the economy as part of a national
strike against gender violence.
In Chile, organizers estimate over 1 million
women and allies took to the streets of the
capital Santiago.
In Colombia and Argentina, demands for legal
abortion took center stage.
In Guatemala, hundreds took to the streets
to mark the third anniversary of the killing
of 41 girls who were burnt alive for protesting
sexual and physical violence at an orphanage.
Protests also took place in the neighboring
countries of El Salvador, Honduras and Costa Rica.
Large protests also took place in Thailand,
Indonesia, the Philippines, Spain, the U.S.
and Pakistan.
Marches in Turkey were met by police violence.
In Iraq, where mass anti-government protests
have been taking place since last October,
women marked the day at Baghdad’s Tahrir
Square with red and white roses and purple
protest banners.
On Saturday in New York City, the Mexican
Collective of Independent Women led a protest
and performance in honor of the thousands
of femicide victims in Mexico.
This is Araceli Salcedo Jiménez, whose daughter
disappeared nearly eight years ago.
Unfortunately femicides are on the rise in
our country of Mexico.
And one of the main places is in the state
of Veracruz, sadly.
And our governor has been indolent and continues
to be indolent on this issue.
They are killing our daughters.
They are killing our women.
How can it be possible in this century we’re
now living in, that we live in a male chauvinist country.
In a country where women are hurt starting
at a young age.
My daughter’s case exists both at the federal
and state level.
We have an ongoing investigation on the issue
of trafficking.
Trafficking is an ongoing issue in Mexico.
And Mexico is not committed to protecting
its women.
That's why its girls, and our daughters, are
being smuggled out of the country.
In less than 48 hours, they're no longer in
Mexico anymore.
And Mexico is not doing anything in regards
to human smuggling, much less the issue of
disappeared people.
I have been searching for her for seven years
and six months.
Just like me, there are thousands of mothers
who are desperate.
We don't know what else to do.
We don't know where to search for them.
One thing we are sure about is that we're
not going to stop searching for them.
And we are going to continue until we find
them.
