In Pictures: Buenos Aires International Women’s Strike

by Ella Jessel (words and images)

13 March 2017

Ella Jessel

Thousands of women in Buenos Aires went on strike last Wednesday to demand an end to femicide and inequality, starting with ruidazos (the banging of pots and pans) in workplaces and houses across the city and ending in a twilight rally at the pink palace.

The global International Women’s Strike – which took place across 50 countries – has its roots in Argentina’s first ever women’s strike called in October last year by the #NiUnaMenos collective after the brutal rape and murder of 16-year-old Lucia Perez in Mar del Plata. It prompted a wave of demonstrations against gender violence across South America.

In Argentina – where NGOs estimate one woman is killed by domestic violence every 30 hours – Wednesday’s demonstration drew an estimated crowd of 250,000 from all age groups, professions and feminist factions. Their demands? Political action against femicide, the decriminalization of abortion, equal pay, a secular state, and longer parental leave.

On an all-female stage of feminist leaders, politicians and the famous grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, activist Liliana Daunes said: “We strike because we are part of a collective and international history. We are here because when the women of the world organize, the earth trembles.”

A women holds a banner aloft as the demonstration sets off from Congreso, Buenos Aires. 
Young activists paint over a zebra crossing on Avenida de Mayo to spell out the words “Viva Nos Queremos” (We want to live).
Members of sex workers’ association Ammar march for labour rights under the slogan “without prostitutes there is no feminism”. 
A group of dancers from Las Altas Wachas cross Avenue 9 Julio in front of the Eva Peron building. 
Members of the female branch of the Sindical Federal march on Avenue de Mayo.  

Women dress in red in front of the Obelisco to protest against missing women.

A girl carries a Ni Una Menos flag as the march moves down Avenue de Mayo.

A pregnant woman poses with slogan “My son, not machista nor macrista” on her stomach.

Build
 people-
  powered
   media.

Build people-powered media.

We’re up against huge power and influence. Our supporters keep us entirely free to access. We don’t have any ad partnerships or sponsored content.

Donate one hour’s wage per month—or whatever you can afford—today.

We’re up against huge power and influence. Our supporters keep us entirely free to access. We don’t have any ad partnerships or sponsored content.

Donate one hour’s wage per month—or whatever you can afford—today.