FAQs

This call for a Women’s Global Strike on 8 March 2023 was initiated by the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD), a leading network of feminist organisations and grassroots activists in Asia Pacific. The International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, ESCR-Net, and Women’s March Global are currently part of the Global Steering Group of the campaign, and a diverse range of movements and organisations are providing leadership at the regional and national levels. The calls have spread and seen support globally, with leadership from over 90 organisations and movements.

Find out more about the WGS focal points for your region and country. And find out about the fierce feministas supporting the campaign! A list of the organisations who have endorsed this campaign can be found here.

As feminist organisations and allies from all around the world who believe that our hope and answer to fight back patriarchy, fundamentalisms, capitalism and militarism lies in our collective power and feminist solidarity, through this campaign we wish build people power and strengthen solidarity across movements. We believe that our starting point for taking back people power and challenging corporate power is to show worldwide what happens if women withdraw from work for one day.

We are striking because we demand change. We are calling this a strike because of the importance of strike actions across history as an expression of our rights and fundamental freedoms: to organise, to assemble and associate. These freedoms are under increasing attack worldwide and it is important to fight for the right to strike.

Throughout history, strikes have been an effective tactic for harnessing the power of movements to affect change. International Women’s Day is not a marketing campaign to make women feel beautiful: it is a day when women have risen up and protested, putting their lives at risk to defend their human rights and fundamental freedoms. Let us honour that history, reclaim the day and revive women’s collective power to demand our human rights.

We continue to grow our movements as more and more allies recognise the deepening of multiple and interconnected inequalities that have benefitted a handful while causing the destruction of the earth’s natural systems and intensifying dispossession and impoverishment  for billions of people. In the face of climate crisis and rising repression, this campaign is a way of amplifying our common demands and taking action for systemic change. Following our mobilisation on 8 March, we will continue to work together to support each other and build our collective power in other spaces, and call for more global strikes to fight injustice and keep spreading the fire of our resistance.

Although the campaign is focused on the realisation of women’s human rights, we acknowledge that gender is not binary, and that our queer siblings and allies also face discrimination and oppression. The campaign welcomes all intersectional feminist allies and invites male allies to show support by making it possible for women and non-binary persons to abandon their care and invisible work responsibilities for one day.

There are lots of great resources online on how to protect your protest! See:

• How to protest safely during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic- https://www.uwmedicine.org/coronavirus/protesting-safely
• Article 19: Protect your protest: https://right-to-protest.org/protect-your-protest/
• Amnesty International: Safety During Protest: https://www.amnestyusa.org/pdfs/SafeyDuringProtest_F.pdf
• Witness: Documenting protests: https://library.witness.org/product-tag/protests/ 

We would primarily suggest that each group organise at the local and national level and coordinate with each other for logistics, risk mitigation and protection.

Great question! These are just some of the creative ways you can show your resistance:

• • Refuse to buy from any franchise or global corporation for one day, instead supporting local shops
  • Create art and share online tagging our social media pages (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram)
  • Wear the same colour, a common campaign t-shirt, or a pin to express solidarity
  • Write an article or blog piece on the right to strike and feminist movements in your context
  • Organise a get together with friends to discuss the campaign

The WGS is about growing and strengthening our movements by connecting our struggles and aspirations, so it’s never too late to join in!

To join us, endorse our political statement and sign up either organisationally or as an individual. You will be added to the list of supporters of the campaign. 

We have a Global Steering Group to better coordinate our growing movement, and depending on your location you can contact one of the focal points to find out what’s happening.

Read our political statement

Download and use the logos and slogan designs in the campaign kit to make your own materials!

Once you sign up to the campaign, you’ll be invited to join the campaign mailing list. You can also tag us on social media on these platforms!

Facebook: @WomensGlobalStrike

Twitter:  @WomensGlbStrike

Instagram: @womensglobalstrike

 Website: womensglobalstrike.com

You can also use the hashtags: #WomensGlobalStrike, #IfWomenStopTheWorldStops, #StopTheWorld, #IWD2021, #FeministsWantSystemChange

Email us at info@womensglobalstrike.com!