SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 8th March (EUROPA PRESS) –
On Friday, in commemoration of ‘International Women’s Day’, the Government of the Canary Islands made an institutional statement condemning the ongoing presence of discrimination, abuse, gender inequality, sexist crimes, and workplace bias against women in the 21st century.
The declaration was announced at the Government’s Presidency by Elisa Yanes Correa, Manuel González Pérez, Paula Rocío Batista, and Irene Díaz Martín, students involved in Gender Equality programs at the Alcalá and La Orotava institutes and the CIFP La Laguna in Tenerife.
Regarding the event, Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo emphasised the crucial need for providing women with a platform and opportunity to express themselves.
“Ignoring over 50% of the Canarian population in decision-making roles within public institutions, private enterprises, and various professional sectors is unsustainable. That’s why this year’s campaign is focused on the urgent necessity of bringing women to the forefront,” she stated.
Elaborating further, she noted that achieving this objective would require a critical analysis of the Government’s existing structures and leadership.
“Undoubtedly, much remains to be done to ensure women rightfully occupy their space,” she added.
Minister of Social Welfare, Equality, Youth, Children, and Families, Candelaria Delgado, echoed similar sentiments, underlining the importance of reinforcing the feminist movement.
“Now more than ever, we must channel all our efforts towards advocating for a fairer and more equal society. We must stand firm against gender violence denial and those who undermine resources allocated to gender equality efforts. We cannot allow the erosion of the hard-won rights achieved by our predecessors,” she highlighted.
AVOIDING PAST MISTAKES
She further warned that history tends to repeat itself cyclically, but it is crucial not to repeat past errors and to firmly oppose any signs of regression.
The Minister expressed gratitude to Elisa Yanes Correa, Manuel González Pérez, Paula Rocío Batista, and Irene Díaz Martín for reading the Canary Islands Government’s Institutional Declaration on Gender Equality, as well as Lidia Bonilla Toledo and Diego Expósito Socas for their performance of the song ‘The woman who moves the world’, led by Emilia Toste Acosta and featuring vocal guidance from Rosa Inés Rivero Castro, from the Municipal School of Music and Dance of Villa de La Orotava, who all contributed selflessly to the event.
The institutional gathering included President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, Minister of Social Welfare, Equality, Youth, Children, and Families, Candelaria Delgado, Vice Minister of Equality and Diversity, Cristina Arceo, and the director of the Canary Institute of Equality, Ana Brito. Various government officials and representatives from feminist organisations were also in attendance.
