ON SATURDAY 8 MARCH—INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY—TWO MAJOR DEMONSTRATIONS TOOK PLACE IN DOWNTOWN LONDON  ~ Blade Runner ~ A coalition of grassroots feminist and supporting organisations called for an International Women’s Strike, gathering at Gandalf’s Corner in Regent’s Park.  A colourful and vibrant crowd numbering in the low thousands marched chanting through Marylebone, bringing traffic to a standstill at Oxford Circus before concluding at Piccadilly Circus.  The march received (generally) positive reactions from drivers and bystanders and the Piccadilly Circus rally featured speeches from sex and care worker groups. At the same time, a mainstream demonstration supported by the unions featured thousands gathering off at Oxford Street before marching to Trafalgar Square, shutting down major streets for the Million Women Rise march. The grassroots coalition issued a call to “strike to honour all those who are oppressed and martyred to keep the wheels of capitalism, imperialism, racism, and the patriarchal war machine running”. “We strike because we know that the state does not take care of us—we take care of us!”, said the call. The callout also highlighted troubling statistics, including the fact that a woman is killed every three days in the UK, and the continuous attacks on trans rights as well as the Labour government’s escalating persecution of migrants. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Photos: Shiri Shalmy, Blade Runner The post In pictures: International Women’s Day in London appeared first on Freedom News.

On the eve of International Women’s Day, Italy’s national government late Friday approved a draft law that introduces femicide into the country’s law following an uproar over violence against women by their former or current partners. Those convicted would face life in prison under the proposed legislation. The draft law “provides for aggravating circumstances and increases in punishment for the crimes of personal abuse, stalking, sexual violence and revenge porn,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement. Italy has been grappling with its long history of femicide — the killing of women — particularly after the murder of 22-year-old university student Giulia Cecchettin. She was killed by her ex-boyfriend Filippo Turetta in November 2023, prompting thousands to take to the streets demanding change. More than 8,000 people attended Cecchettin’s funeral, including Meloni. Turetta was sentenced to life in prison in December. Italy’s interior ministry recorded 117 femicides in 2023. The country ranked 14th on the EU’s Gender Equality Index in 2024, coming in below the EU as a whole. Other member countries have made more progress in equality, which has continued to move Italy down the rankings. While women have made large gains in holding positions of power, their overall status in work participation consistently ranks last among member countries, the index concluded.