Esquerra Republicana’s Deputy Secretary General for Feminisms and LGBTI policy was the only Catalan member at the meeting in Mexico that brought together 56 feminist and progressive leaders from the world over

Esquerra Republicana Deputy Secretary General for Feminisms and LGBTI policy Raquel Sans took part between March 30 and April 1 in the foundation of the Feminist International held in Mexico City. Ms Sans is the only Catalan member of this new international feminist framework made up of 56 feminist and progressive leaders from around the world.

“My judgement of the meeting that has given birth to an international feminist network is highly positive. The women of Esquerra Republicana have been a part since the very beginning, weaving the international defence of all women, and fighting the reactionary, neo-fascist discourse which is increasingly present in society,” said Ms Sans.

Among the 56 women from nearly 30 countries and nations of different continents was the Minister for Women and Gender Equity of Chile, Antonia Orellana, the mayor of Santiago de Chile, Irací Hassler, President Xiomara Castro of Honduras, and the Minister for Women and Gender Equality of Venezuela, Diva Guzmán, as well as members of parliament, senators, activists and other political leaders from our neighbouring countries, including Germany and France, and more distant ones such as India, Bangladesh and Palestine.

The Feminist International means to establish a transnational space for collective feminist activity and coordination to fight against patriarchy on a global scale, from a progressive, intersectional, anti-racist and environmental feminist perspective, and with a profound sense of democracy and peace-building.

The meeting began with an opening ceremony at which the manifesto was presented, followed by working round-tables, workshops and training sessions. In addition, the participants visited Iztapalapa’s Utopía y Libertad sustainable facility, where educational, cultural, artistic and sports activities are organized, and which has a women’s care centre. A “magical place”, said Ms Sans, which “places care at the centre.” She also took advantage of the trip to visit México’s Orfeó Català, “a refuge for over a century, and at the same time a generator of Catalan community and culture, for all those families who one day had to leave for exile.”