Socialist Feminist Revival in Latin America

[subsuelo]

August 9th 2009, by Reihana Mohideen - Znet

There is a revival of socialist feminism in Latin America, spearheaded by the Venezuelan and Cuban revolutions.

I just returned from a workshop on gender-based violence organised by the Ministry of Women's Affairs in Venezuela and the UNDP. Speakers at the workshop included Maria Leon, Minister of Women's Affairs and Nora Casteneda President of Banmujer or Bank for the Development of Women. The two women explained the gains made by women as a result of Bolivarian socialist revolution in Venezuela. A record which was truly amazing in the attempts made in empowering women towards achieving gender equality, reported candidly by both women, who also outlined the challenges women in that country have as yet to overcome.

The Bolivarian constitution is the first in the South (and possibly the world) to recognise women's housework as a legitimate economic activity producing wealth and contributing to the social welfare of the population: "The State will recognise household chores as an economic activity that creates added value, produces wealth and social welfare. Housewives have the right to social security according to the law." (Article 88) As Maria Leon explained in Article 88 "the work of all previous generations of women are also recognised and valued".

In March 2007 the right of women to live a life free of violence became an organic law enacted by the National Assembly of Venezuela. Now the law must be effectively implemented. This includes setting up special courts or legal units to handle violence against women cases across the country, with some 19 courts already set up covering all regions. These courts were described as 'new institutions of the Venezuelan state to eradicate violence against women'. The first courts were on violence against women were set up in Caracas on June 27, 2008.

...

The Ministry for Women's Affairs and Gender Equality was set up on March 8, 2009. One of the first activities of the new Ministry was to organise a congress of women to consult women on the plans and work of the Ministry. A key objective of the Ministry is to advice the President on 'human development with gender equality' and the 'active participation in the defence and guarantee of women's rights in the revolutionary transformation of the country'. Linked to this a key task of the Ministry is to 'design the criteria for allocating financial and social resources and investments targeting women, especially those who are marginalised and excluded, suffering discrimination, exploitation and violence ... in order to promote a socialist production model with gender equity in the socialisation of the means of production'.

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/4704">full article

[flamingdem]

1. Interesting article thanks nt

[IndianaGreen]

2. Meanwhile, women's rights are going backwards in the US

Soviet women enjoyed more reproductive freedoms in 1922 than American women do today.

[rabs]

3. In Chile, housewives have been receiving pensions since last year

While it is not in the Chilean Constitution, Bachelet last year (July 2008) signed a law giving housewives and other poor people pensions. It helps a lot of people who were not getting any pension at all.

This quote is from her campaign for president in Dec. 2005.

"Of course housewives deserve a pension," Bachelet said during the campaign. "Who more to say so than me? I'm a professional and a life-long housewife. I know it's hard work."

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Chile revamps famed pension system

Some 600,000 poor Chileans will receive monthly pensions starting in July under a law signed Tuesday by President Michelle Bachelet that plugs gaps in Chile’s widely copied private pension system

Bachelet, who signed the legislation on her second anniversary as president, called the measure “one of the most important social reforms in decades.“

The $2 billion a year program covers groups left out by private pensions – the poor and self-employed, housewives, street vendors and farmers who saved little for retirement – granting about a quarter of the nation’s work force public pensions by 2012.

http://en.mercopress.com/2008/03/12/chile-revamps-famed-pension-system

[Judi Lynn]

4. Thank you! This news escaped our own corporate media, predictably.

Very meaningful, helpful steps these people most surely need, and will use, with thanks.

[eridani]

5. Badly needed. The Latin American left is far too eager to compromise with the Church

Gawdawful abortion laws.