“When it comes to women’s rights, Luxembourg is doing better than many other countries. But not everything is perfect here either; many things are hidden, and once you start asking questions you realise that many things are not okay,” says Isabelle Schmoetten from the Centre for Information and Documentation (CID) Women and Gender, which launched the “International Women’s Day” (abbreviated to JIF from the French journée internationale de la femme) platform in Luxembourg.
For Women’s Day 2023, JIF has released a list of demands revolving around four main points: housing, family, finances, and violence against women.
Among other things, JIF advocates for a three-month birth leave for both parents. Schmoetten stated that women often feel abandoned in the months following the birth of a child. Patterns have a tendency to solidify, she noted, adding that in order to establish a more equitable division of care tasks, it is critical not to put everything on one person in the first few months. While a 10-day paternity leave has by now become “a European minimum,” Schmoetten believes that “we could go further.” Working to establish an equitable society and children with healthy bonds would also pay off economically, according to Schmoetten.
As for housing, she stated that single mothers, in particular, had a tough time finding homes. There is also a shortage of places in women’s shelters for victims of domestic violence. In terms of finances, women in Luxembourg “are six times more likely than men to work part-time,” and as a result they get a lower pension. While the latest figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (STATEC) show that hourly wages are now higher for women than for men, this is only one aspect of the problem, Schmoetten argued. When it comes to annual incomes, “men still earn significantly more.”
Schmoetten invited anyone wanting to stand up for women’s rights to join the feminist march which will take place at Hamilius in Luxembourg City at 5pm.
