Within the framework of the commemoration of International Women’s Day, there is a background of important reflections as a society. To achieve this, it is important to remember the birth of the fight. It was February 28, 1909 when the Socialist Party of the United States of America designated this day in honor of the strike of the New York textile workers who in 1908 protested due to their precarious working conditions.

Over the years, the movement gained strength throughout the world seeking equal rights, as well as to achieve universal female suffrage. It was until the end of the Second World War, when March 8 began to be celebrated in several countries and, in December 1977, the General Assembly of the United Nations Organization resolved that a United Nations Human Rights Day be proclaimed. of Women and International Peace.

It is also important to talk about the violence that is triggered by the inequality of rights. Violence against women dates from the earliest civilizations in the world, in the history of the civilized world, there is no evidence of a society where systematic violence against women has not existed. Historically, women have been seen as an object of possession and where their value lies in their marital, sentimental, sexual, fertility and physical characteristics above their work and intellectual capacities.

To understand in more detail the way in which this violence has developed throughout history, it is important to understand the concept of possession,

“Possession continues to be one of the arguments for violence against women, whether it is caused by the idea of ​​carnal possession-sexual violence, sentimental possession-harassment and loving violence, psychological possession and control-psychological violence, administrative and citizen possession -administrative and state violence, reproductive possession-sexual violence, abduction and forced marriage and as non-possession of a person’s life-factual violence, murder”

In all these possessions we find the reflection of the classic division that occurs towards the bodies as an object of male power: “bodies for procreation, bodies for desire.”

Mexico is no exception, there is evidence of violence against women throughout our history. We have a large number of women who have been silenced, persecuted, violated, imprisoned, executed, in addition to belittling and minimizing their work and their contribution to our own history as a nation.

Currently, violence against women in Mexico is alarming. For this reason, INEGI carries out the National Survey on the dynamics of relationships in Homes whose main objective is to generate information on the experiences of violence that women aged 15 years and over have faced, in order to support the design and monitoring of public policies aimed at addressing and eradicating gender-based violence against women.

Next, we will review some data from the last update of this survey:

• Seven out of ten women have suffered at least one incident of violence in their lifetime.
• Four out of ten women have suffered sexual violence throughout their lives.
• Five out of ten women have been humiliated, watched, locked up or had their belongings destroyed. They have been threatened with the abandonment or suicide of their partner, with running them out of their home, taking their children from them, hurting them or killing them.
• Three out of ten have had their partner complained about their expenses, prohibited them from working or studying, or taken money or property from them.
• 4.4 million women over 15 years of age suffered sexual abuse during their childhood

These figures are disturbing, but it is important to know them to reflect on them, but above all, take action to move towards a more equitable society, in which violence against women is eradicated.

There are already many initiatives and a long way to go in this fight, thanks to which women can vote, study for a career, exercise any profession, among others, however, the road is still long and it is important that we continue working to achieve it.

The COVID-19 pandemic has complicated life in this sector and performance in society in many ways. Regarding the context of this reflection, women have encountered great challenges within the global crisis we are experiencing, job loss, increased unpaid care workload, domestic exploitation, among others.

Women are also on the front lines of responding to the pandemic, in hospitals, productive life, communities and families. They are among the leaders who have maintained the lowest incidence rates and countries in recovery.

It is proven that women leaders and women’s organizations possess great skills, knowledge and networks to efficiently lead the reaction and recovery efforts in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. At this time in history we accept more than ever that women bring important experience, judgment, vision and skills that contribute vitally to decisions, legislation and public policy that works best for each and everyone.

That is why it is so important that we highlight the value of the roles played by women in the productive, business, political, family and community sectors, but above all that we continue to grant more and more voices that integrate the perspective of women and girls in all their plurality, at the time of promoting programs and public policies in all spheres and sectors for recovery from a pandemic and looking a little further into the future, the construction of a better society.