Women's Voices Rise and Unite Across the World in May Day Celebrations

FiLiA is calling for all political parties, trade unions and community groups to speak up for women’s human rights as they celebrate May 1 – International Workers’ Day.

As millions take to the streets worldwide, the organisation, renowned for its links with international sisterhood, say that women are at increasing risk due to war and other conflicts, trafficking, male violence and the erosion of sex-based rights.

FiLiA CEO Lisa-Marie Taylor says: “We’ll be celebrating to mark the day, alongside other campaigners and activists, but we’ll be mourning too.

“As we march with our banner, we’re thinking of women across the world, especially those suffering in Ukraine, Yemen, Afghanistan and any war zone, with threats of rape, torture and death.

“We mark May Day by recommitting ourselves to the struggle against female genital mutilation, forced marriage, trafficking, rape and all other forms of male violence against women.”

FiLiA, who has hosted a significant international feminist conference since 2013, supports women around the world. They have hit out at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, for inaction which they say endangers the lives of lesbian refugees in the Kakuma camp, Kenya.

The charity also runs the Hague Mothers Legacy Project, taking on what they call “a good law gone bad.” The Hague Convention, applied since 1980, was designed to tackle fathers abducting their children. Now it’s being misused, say FiLiA, and is persecuting women trying to get their children away from violent and abusive men.

The annual FiLiA event, which last year saw more than 1,200 delegates and speakers gather in Portsmouth, will be in Cardiff in October 2022.

Says Taylor: “We have 700 delegates already registered – six months before the event! This year, we’ve added an extra day, so it’s now three full days of international speakers, including women from Australia, Norway, Canada, Zimbabwe and Japan.”

Speakers will cover topics including women and war, eco-feminism, disability, sex-based rights, anti-racism, lesbian rights and secularism. Throughout the event, there is a focus on mobilisation.

“We also have an art project, which highlights women artists. This goes hand in hand with our campaigning and activism. We want better funding for women’s services – in health, education and welfare. We also want the arts to be supported, and to lift up women in all the creative industries. 

“We want bread – and roses too.”