Huge and Healthy Victory for the Women of Argentina

By Carlos Aznárez on June 17, 2018

It is difficult to contain the emotion after what happened in these last 24 hours in Argentina. And it is even more difficult to reflect on this feminist victory that was obtained by an enduring conviction to fight for a just cause. The bill for legal, safe and free abortion was approved by the lower chamber of Argentina’s Congress.

No, this is not the result of a day or even a month of struggle, but 33 years of strong militancy from those pioneers who began to meet with their colleagues at the National Women’s Meeting. Of course, they were convinced that it was necessary to make their demands visible, but they also represented others who came before them many of whom sacrificed themselves to demand to the institutions, dominated by patriarchal power, the need to decriminalize abortion.

Taking into account that year after year what was in the beginning a thread of water became a strong green tide, strengthened by the extraordinary campaign “Not one less”.  We must thank all those fighters; their conviction and their courage. They faced enormous obstacles and had to camouflage themselves in all the sectors of a sexist society that permeated the norm in the homes, in the beds, in the work places and in the classrooms. But above all they were fighting an ideology embedded in the church, the institution that burned thousands of women, like these celebrating in the streets today, at the stake who fought for women’s rights and equality. These are women who fought so that others won’t die in some dangerous clandestine abortion

This is what this green tide is all about, one that has invaded the national consciousness in a healthy way and that has come to stay. It is a joy to be witnessing such an emblematic moment, similar to the one that was consecrated by Comrade Evita to achieve the right of women to vote, or the one achieved with the sanction of the divorce law or the recent equality for same sex marriage. They are indelible milestones in the memory of the people. That is why this victory is celebrated with laughter, songs, slogans full of irony towards the anti-abortionists, and also with tears for everything that it took to obtain it.

However, there is a fundamental aspect that should serve as an example to those who fight for revolutionary changes and for an inclusive, multi-national and multi-cultural Argentina, and it is the value of what unity has meant for all these fighters. From the beginning they set their sights on the target, saw the tree and took the forest into account and acted accordingly. They took the debate first to all the progressive organizations and then they proposed to make it effective. They went to adolescent and young daughters with their parents, teachers and even with those friends contaminated by the patriarchal discourse. Also to the sisters with their brothers, and not to mention the couples, since they also moved the discussion into the confines of their own personal relationships. Then, in an unstoppable crescendo, it was aimed at politicians, trade unionists, the world of culture, members of Parliament and even ministers. No site was left unvisited and no one could say that “he did not know what it was all about”. In this way and with huge mobilizations on the street – the fundamental weapon of all those who want to achieve a victory – the current moment was reached.

Another essential formula in this is the character of the women’s movement. It is a broad, assembly of horizontal and self-managed groups and individuals. It is a lesson to be taken into account by all organizations, groups or entities that face this system.

Summing up; the conviction of knowing why one fights, training to conduct battle, the unity and strength to achieve the goal, self-management and finally being in the street as a channel of struggle. These four virtues crown the joy for what has already been achieved and mark a course for future offensives against those who try to steal our dream that another world is possible.

To those of us who in these last years wear with pride and humility the green handkerchief of this women’s rebellion, it is worth to have been able to share this last day of struggle and celebration in front of the Parliament with a sea of boisterous youth, creative, enthusiastic, quarrelsome, determined and always with a visible smile. Hundreds of thousands shouting and dancing, making their demands come at all times to those in Parliament (under cover of the winter cold that was endured on the street) who were discussing the approval of the long-awaited law. Applauding those parliamentarians who fully supported them, and booing those who are nostalgic for the Inquisition, the dictatorships and the most retrograde thoughts. Those who hypocritically say it is okay to have an abortion just don’t talk about it.

Finally, when the law became reality, the explosion of victory born in the streets adjacent to the Congress expanded as a green trail throughout the city and the country where other demonstrations were taking place, changing the expression on the faces whose lives grieve from what this terrible government means. Car horns, tears of laughter, spontaneous hugs on every corner between people unknown to each but equal in this claim.  This moment giving strength to go for more, even if these who rule do not like it and seek to scare us with their repressive power. These wonderful women are today the vanguard and behind them we humbly march ourselves, as well as begin to deconstruct that patriarchal thought that we all carry inside. It’s time.

http://www.resumenlatinoamericano.org/2018/06/14/opinion-enorme-victoria-del-feminismo-argentino-por-carlos-aznarez/

Source:  Resumen Latinoamericano, translated by Resumen North America bureau