Across Latin America, a coordinated wave of demonstrations converged on government offices, parliaments, and city streets to mark International Women’s Day. The protests carried a clear anti-government current and tied past struggles to current challenges faced by women of all identities. A government spokesperson referenced repurposing an institutional room and suggested that naming a space after women could alienate men, as the capital sensed mounting discontent.
Left-leaning lawmakers denounced the president as a provocateur for the move. They argued that the street remains the true arena for women’s rights, warning that government leadership would not deter resistance to what they view as a patriarchal resurgence.
Throughout the city, women gathered in large numbers around the Parliament, where a document linking historical events to ongoing and future gender challenges was read aloud. The message articulated a collective identity born from past activism and future aspirations: a movement that began as a green tide and seeks to become a tsunami in defense of reproductive rights and gender equality.
The appeal urged the administration to rethink policies seen as restricting rights, including inclusive language in public discourse and broader changes tied to gender perspectives. Activists highlighted a three-month governance period with actions they described as anti-rights, including the closure of a national anti-discrimination body and directives on how public administration should engage with gender issues.
Participants stated that International Women’s Day would be remembered as a moment of resistance against right-wing policies. They condemned privatization, deregulation, and cuts to public services, while opposing layoffs. They argued that the government’s economic plans risk dehumanizing society through austerity and misaligned priorities, pointing to rising poverty, debt, and difficulty in obtaining essentials such as food, medicines, education, transport, and housing.
Among the public conversation, a segment of the crowd broadened its focus to regional concerns, reaffirming solidarity with feminists across Latin America.
Politics, Economy, and Diversity
Initial emphasis centered on a document denouncing laws seen as rolling back sexual and reproductive rights. The critique targeted right-wing policies that, supporters claimed, deny gender inequalities while favoring traditional religious institutions with long histories of opposing women’s liberties. The call was simple: stay vigilant and resist any rollback of abortion rights and protections against gender-based violence. Statistics showing ongoing violence, including dozens of feminicides this year, underscored the urgency.
In several countries, remarks about free expression and civil rights accompanied critiques of threats to journalists, artists, and other public figures for political reasons. The rhetoric reflected a broader skepticism toward leaders perceived as hostile to dissent and independent media.
Beyond the capital, demonstrations spread to many urban centers, with protesters challenging entrenched patriarchy and demanding tangible reforms in education, health care, and social protections. The mood remained defiant, with calls for a more inclusive political system that reflects the needs of women from rural areas, Indigenous communities, and other marginalized groups.
The 8M Across Latin America
Across the region, the day highlighted a shared demand for gender equality, safer workplaces, and stronger protections against violence. Movements united under the banner of preventing violence in both private and public spaces, demanding accountability and better services for survivors of gender-based abuse. The protests also echoed demands for economic justice, fair wages, and expanded political participation for women and gender-diverse people.
Brazil
In Brazil, thousands gathered in major cities to protest feminicides, advocate for abortion rights, and push for the latest gains in gender equality legislation. In São Paulo, hundreds of women marched down a prominent avenue, many wearing colors associated with the women’s movement. Speakers highlighted the ongoing costs of violence against women and the limited legal grounds for abortion, noting that abortion is allowed only under specific circumstances. Participants walked through rain, carrying placards calling for equal pay, an end to feminicides, and a ceasefire in conflict zones. Public security data show a persistent level of violence against women, underscoring the need for comprehensive policy action. An analysis of Lula’s early presidency noted continued emphasis on women’s issues, though critics pointed to selective appointments to the Supreme Court and ongoing debates about gender parity at the highest levels of government. Protests spread to Brasília and other major cities, signaling broad-based activism across Brazil.
As the day progressed, supporters observed that despite legal advances, pronounced inequalities persisted in the labor market. A reform promoting wage equality for equal work was highlighted as a major step forward, though commentators argued that change must extend to all sectors and levels of government. Discussions also connected to regional solidarity, linking domestic policies with international concerns about women’s rights and social justice.
Brazilian civil society groups stressed that true progress requires sustained political will, including ensuring that women hold positions of influence and decision-making power in both public and private sectors. Regional voices continued to stress that gender equality is inseparable from broader social, economic, and human rights issues, including support for women in conflict zones and those with limited access to health care and education.
Puerto Rico
In Puerto Rico, hundreds of women blocked a major highway in San Juan during rush hour, creating a moment of pause to highlight the day’s themes. The crowd’s chants centered on reproductive rights and protection against gender-based violence, while public safety officials managed traffic flow and maintained order. A performance from a prominent feminist collective elevated the cultural dimension of the protest, with musicians interpreting the struggle through song. Organizers called for broader participation of women in leadership roles and urged legislative attention to gun control and related safety measures.
The day featured discussions about the structural roots of violence and the need to ensure laws protect women from violence within intimate relationships and in public life. Community leaders emphasized the importance of healthier, safer communities and robust social services to support families and survivors.
During the demonstrations, community groups highlighted culture’s role in protest, citing traditional music and dance as instruments of political expression and resilience. The day ended with a reaffirmation of commitment to address gender-based violence through coordinated action, policy reform, and community-based support networks.
Uruguay
Thousands of Uruguayan women marched to challenge patriarchal norms and the capitalist system they say oppresses them. The violet-tinted procession emphasized labor rights, social protections, and a political culture that genuinely includes women in decision-making. The national trade union confederation’s gender secretary underscored the need for public policy recognizing unpaid care work and social care duties as essential. The protest also highlighted internal debates within feminist movements about inclusive spaces and diverse approaches to issues such as surrogacy and sex work, all while maintaining a clear stance against gender-based discrimination and violence.
Organizers outlined a broader agenda to secure a legal framework reducing gender violence, ensure equal pay, and expand female representation in public institutions. They noted sustained collective action is necessary to close the gender pay gap and achieve real inclusion in both economy and governance. Observers pointed to a growing, more coordinated feminist movement that welcomes varied voices, even as some groups push for separate spaces to address safety and inclusivity concerns.
The day also featured memorials to women who suffered violence, with slogans honoring those who did not survive gender-based crimes. Statistics underscored the ongoing challenge, but participants remained hopeful about progress through continued advocacy and political engagement.
Peru
Peruvian feminists and allied groups gathered in Lima to demand an end to violence and the right to dignified work. The march included calls for safe and accessible abortion and emphasized respect for reproductive rights across all women. Demonstrators highlighted broader issues such as violence against women, domestic abuse, and the need for comprehensive sex education and social supports to protect vulnerable populations. In Lima, activists stressed that true equality requires ongoing attention to systemic issues affecting women across society.
Support came from coalitions advocating for women’s political participation and universal basic income, while urging policies addressing gender-based discrimination in education, health, and the labor market. The day showcased Peru’s commitment to gender justice, linking local struggles with regional and global movements for women’s rights and social equity.
International organizations participated by documenting crimes, urging protective actions, and highlighting needed legal reforms to safeguard women’s autonomy and safety. The Peru-focused discussions stressed that beyond protest, sustained policy development is essential to improving women’s lived realities and advancing a more just society.
Across Lima, Ecuador, and other capitals, activists linked women’s rights to broader humanitarian concerns, including regional solidarity with Palestinians and other groups facing displacement and violence. The day concluded with a reaffirmation that women’s rights are human rights and that progress requires unity, strategic policy work, and a firm commitment to ending gender-based violence everywhere.