AMERICA/MEXICO - "No" to violence against women: on 8 March the statues of saints covered in church, while on 9 March it is "women's strike"

Saturday, 7 March 2020 women   human rights   area crisis   violence  

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Mexico City (Agenzia Fides) - The parish of Saints Cosme and Damián in Mexico City has covered the images and statues of saints and virgins as a symbolic gesture in support of women's rights and to draw attention to the vast phenomenon of violence against women. Thus the Church in Mexico is preparing to live March 8, international women's day, to remember the urgency of promoting the dignity of women, in the Church and in society. Inside the temple, the saints and virgins are covered with purple cloaks, usually used to cover all the images during Holy Week.
José de Jesús Aguilar, deputy director of the radio and television of the archdiocese of Mexico said in a note sent to Agenzia Fides: "We strongly support women; it is a support for their deeper dignity, and we are not in favor of any political group". "In the Lent season in which we find ourselves - the priest explained - covering the images of saints and after 40 days of reflection and prayer, we will be able to rediscover the role of women in our society".
Father Aguilar adds: "We must remind everyone that violence against women is to be condemned, like other sins committed against them. It is not only a civil offense, but it is a sin to discriminate against them, violate them, abuse their rights, and above all kill them with impunity", as tragically happens in many cases.
March 8, 2020 will be celebrated in a different manner compared to other years: countless organizations have called a march for International Women's Day and a "National Women's Strike" has been called for next Monday 9 March.
The goal is to ensure that there is not even one woman in offices or schools. No women in restaurants, shops and even in public transport. The idea is to present a country without women for a day. The proposal was born from feminist groups, but it has aroused the support of many institutions including the Catholic Church, to give the country a strong and public sign, for the urgent need to end violence against women and change the male-dominated mentality, rooted in society in Mexico. The event is expected to become an important landmark in Mexico's modern history.
The Bishops of Mexico spoke out in favor of this initiative with a statement that states: "As Mexican Episcopal Conference, we express our support for the #UnDíaSinNosotras initiative which will take place on March 9. This motivation derives from the real tragedies that recently have deeply damaged women, who lead us to reflection on the current challenges of fundamental human rights in our country. As a Catholic Church, we also reaffirm our commitment and take responsibility for building a Mexico in peace, free from violence." (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 7/3/2020)


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