Noelia López and Paula Boira |
Madrid (EFE) reform of the law of only yes is yes.
In Madrid, where a purple tide flooded avenues and squares that International Women’s Day, the 8M Commission once again convenes the traditional 8M demonstration, which vindicates the laws designed by the Ministry of Equality. “Wherever you see the tallest and largest trans flag, that is the demonstration we call,” the organizers emphasize.
But the Feminist Movement of Madrid, contrary to the trans law, abolitionist of prostitution and supporter of reforming the law of only yes is yes, stands out again and organizes its own march.
It already did so last year and on 25N, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, when the unfolding of the call caused the division of the Government, with ministers from the socialist wing behind their banner and amid shouts of “Irene Montero resignation ”.
A new photo of the division is not expected this Wednesday. The socialist ministers have advanced that they will attend the traditional march, in which, predictably, as in previous years, the leaders of Podemos will also participate.
The PP will opt, however, for the demonstration that claims “against the yes is yes law” and against the trans law”, its parliamentary spokesperson, Cuca Gamarra, has indicated.
The reconquest of the street
“This year we see the same atmosphere again (as five years ago), with new compañeras joining the assemblies; The need for feminism is still as valid as then and we aspire to return to filling the streets”, Vicky, one of the spokespersons for the 8M Commission, assured Efe.
They observe the political confrontation and the partisan fights with concern, but they are clear about their positions, they are committed to a law of only yes is yes in which women do not have to prove they have been victims of violence and they defend at all costs “trans compañeras” .
“The debate about what is prostitution is complex. For us, feminism is listening to all women; really, the division is not such, ”says this activist.
From the Feminist Movement of Madrid, Ana de Blas questions this approach: “Feminism is against the commodification of women’s bodies, whether through sexual exploitation, the prostitution system or surrogacy.”
More than division, De Blas believes that there is “an attempt to usurp feminism and the social credit of this movement”, a “partisan instrumentalization for certain political careers”.
In some cities separate demonstrations have been organized and in others there will be “abolitionist blocs” within the traditional marches.
The laws of controversy
The trans law promoted by Equality, which allows the change of sex in the registry without conditions from the age of 16, did not please part of the PSOE, but finally the project saw the light without modifications, and Carmen Calvo, ousted from the First Vice Presidency of the Government, was left at the head of the dissident socialist minority.
The more than 700 reductions in sentences for sexual offenders in application of the “yes is yes” law, however, have led the PSOE to stand up and lead a reform alone, even if it has to rely on the votes of the PP to approve it.
Nobody in the Government foresaw these reductions, but the parliamentary process of the officially called Law for the Comprehensive Guarantee of Sexual Freedom was not peaceful in the government coalition on account of prostitution either.
The fight, on that occasion, was also won by Equality, and the socialist group was forced to withdraw “in extremis” the amendments with which it proposed extending the punishment to pimps.
Eliminated that chapter, he alone registered a bill to walk towards the abolition of prostitution that includes fines for whoremongers, but that, nine months after passing through the plenary session, does not advance in its parliamentary process.
