SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 8th March (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Parliament of the Canary Islands marked ‘International Women’s Day’ on March 8th with the unveiling of a new sculpture in the chamber dedicated to the esteemed politician and lawyer Clara Campoamor, who played a pivotal role in the recognition of the voting rights of Spanish women in 1931.
President of the Chamber, Astrid Pérez, unveiled the artwork donated by the artist Máximo Riol Cimas and reflected on Campoamor’s famous words that “freedom is learned through practice,” leaving behind a legacy that calls for necessary change through struggle.
Presenting the piece titled ‘To Clara Campoamor: Loyalty and Tenacity’, Astrid Pérez emphasised that this event in the Canarian Parliament “rightly recognises” democratic history and commemorates “a woman who, against all odds, championed for the rights of all to participate in political life on equal footing with men.”
“Today, in Spain, there is no doubt that women have the right to vote. However, in 1931, Campoamor had to confront individuals from various ideologies who believed women were not yet ready to elect their political representatives,” stressed the president.
Moreover, “she devoted her life to advocating for divorce rights, equality for children born out of wedlock, and the eradication of prostitution,” she added.
Astrid Pérez referenced Campoamor’s passionate defence of women’s voting rights from her book ‘The female vote and I: my mortal sin’: “You can resolve whatever you like, but you must bear the responsibility of allowing half of the human gender to engage in politics. Politics should involve both sexes. There’s only one thing that belongs exclusively to one gender: giving birth. Everything else is a shared responsibility, and you cannot come here to legislate, impose taxes, lay down duties, or enforce norms on humanity, women, or isolated children, excluding us.
The Sculptor’s “Act of Kindness”
Astrid Pérez also acknowledged “the act of kindness” by the sculptor Máximo Riol, a native of Lorca (Murcia) who has been a resident of the Canary Islands for over 63 years.
She described how this artist’s sculptures adorn more than twenty locations worldwide, gracing streets, buildings, and public spaces in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Firgas, Artenara, Telde, or Puerto del Rosario.
They can also be found in Ibiza, Burgos, Leganés, Galicia, or Valladolid, as well as in countries like Germany, the Netherlands, Peru, Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela, and the United States.
Máximo Riol expressed gratitude to the President of the Parliament of the Canary Islands for embracing his proposal to honour “one of the most significant figures in Spanish politics of the 20th century,” highlighting “Clara Campoamor’s relentless pursuit to establish equal rights for women comparable to those of men.”
The Parliament of the Canary Islands also unveiled two institutional videos on Friday, featuring female deputies, chamber staff, and representatives of the Canary Islands Government, aiming to “raise societal awareness about the imperative need to continue progressing towards equality,” Astrid Pérez elaborated.
