In recognition of International Women’s Day, more than 20 Venezuelan Women’s Collectives massed in the Venezuelan National Assembly yesterday to request that the Assembly address their proposals to re-examine all laws in Venezuela from the perspective of their affects upon the rights of women to equality.
The women also offered thirty three proposals for new laws in favor of women, including the legalization of abortion. Legalization of abortion would be a major break-through for women in this country. Here, 98% of the population self-identify as Catholic and the Catholic Church hierarchy is rabidly reactionary.
The Collectives proposals were received supportably by the President of the National Assembly, Fernado Soto Rojas, and the country’s Second Vice President, Blanca Eekhout, who both promised that the National Assembly would address the proposals offered.
As reported in Correo del Orinoco of March 10, 2011 (Span. and English edition) in addition to the demand for legalization of abortion, the collectives’ thirty three proposals include the demand to for implementation of the 1999 Constitution’s mandate to provide social security benefits to those who work in the home.