This Friday, March 8, a new international women’s day is commemorated in the world and Chile is no exception. Within the framework of a new 8M there are calls for demonstrations just as they have been carried out in recent years in different parts of the country. It is also a day to take stock of the progress of women in society.
In this context, the director of the Gender Equality Directorate of the University of Chile, Carmen Andrade, spoke with Mirna Schindler in Al Pan Pan about how the Government and the Chilean State have advanced in matters related to women’s rights.
The administration of President Gabriel Boric since his administration began has been classified as a “Feminist Government”a definition that has been criticized by some related social movements for the little progress in materializing fundamental causes for the feminist movement.
Along these lines, Andrade clarified that the positive thing about this administration is that it has put the gender issue as part of its political agenda, so that means “Look, my Government is committed, that single gesture I think has been super important.”
“Why? Because that means that not only the Ministry of Women, But all ministries have to take charge, whether they like it or not, this is the Government’s priority“, he noted.
However, the former Serman minister during Michelle Bachelet’s first term clarified that it is difficult to define itself as a “Feminist Government,” because “It generates high expectations and in four years it is difficult to carry out all the changes that are needed.”
Likewise, Andrade appreciated the progress that has been made, such as the alimony law, as well as the progress that exists with the comprehensive care system, but insists that progress has not yet been made on structural issues.
“There are advances that are required to promote women’s rights that involve high costs and as long as there is no generosity for businessmen, for Parliament to allocate substantive resources is very difficult,” he added in this regard.
Likewise, she insisted that “many of the things that we are proposing are those that we have fought for for so many years, they are not just cultural statements, but they require many resources and I think the political will has not been there put there to advance and allocate greater resources.”
A new 8M
Regarding a new 8M, Carmen Andrade said that it is difficult to give an answer about how women arrive at this new date, since for her it depends a lot on looks.
From a historical perspective, “I cannot help but recognize all the advances, because we had to fight for basic things that seem normal to us today,” he said. However, “From the perspective of what we deserve, we still have a long way to go,” he clarified.
For the director of the Gender Equality Directorate of the University of Chile, the issues or laws that are in favor of women usually be left behind by others that are priorities for the politician’s system at the moment.
In this line, Andrade highlights the approval of the Comprehensive Law on Gender Violence, since it is something that was expected, which will allow us to see the situation that exists in Chile, since “Many violence laws are partial, so you are left with many gaps.”
The initiative establishes a Regulatory framework that allows contemplating the prevention, punishment and eradication of violence against women because of their genderestablishing bases and guidelines to be addressed, in addition to the duties of the State in this matter, following the commitments of the Convention of Belém do Pará, subscribed and ratified by Chile since 1996.