Friday is International Women’s Day. In Munich, the “March 8th Action Alliance” is calling for a demonstration. As a member of the International Women’s League for Peace and Freedom, lawyer Silvia Schwarz is helping to organize the rally. A conversation about violence in war and how a movement with different concerns finds unity.
SZ: March 8th is a public holiday in Berlin, but not in Bavaria. Does that annoy you?
Silvia Schwarz: There are many days on which we as women take part, but on International Women’s Day it’s really just about our concerns and rights. This is unique and I would like it to be honored with a holiday here too. For me it is always one! I take time off every year for this. This time we’re lucky, March 8th is a Friday. If the weather cooperates, we should get a few thousand people to Marienplatz – women and men in solidarity. We have also organized the drummers from Samba Sole Luna for the start at 5 p.m. And at the end a flamenco singer.
Is Munich a special place for the women’s movement?
Historically, yes. And there are just a lot of women living here. Plus, living in this city is expensive. Women are still paid less than men, which makes their situation worse. I’m thinking especially of single parents. This is an ongoing issue for us. Childcare and care work in general are still predominantly done by women. Another big issue is sexual violence. Almost every third day in Germany a woman is killed by her partner. There are also femicides in Munich. And even when I hear about rapes at the Oktoberfest, I’m always at a loss. Munich has a lot of money and could do a lot more to protect women from violence.
In the announcement of your rally you emphasize the violence that women experience in war zones around the world. What do wars mean for women?
Times of war promote patriarchal structures and violence, including against women. I know this because women in my family have experienced sexual violence. My grandmother fled from Danzig to Mecklenburg during the war and was raped several times on the way. This violence destroys personalities. And this happens all the time in the world – humiliation of women as a means of war. It happened again in Ukraine, and on October 7th in Israel. We must not forget the suffering in Gaza either. I often miss the solidarity with these women. We at the Women’s League are therefore calling for a ceasefire and peace. Less money for wars and more for the areas that urgently need it: care, education, climate justice. For hope. This would help women all over the world and in Munich.
And what gives you hope, especially in Munich?
I am proud of our alliance. We are all very different, for example we come from trade unions and women’s organizations, each with our own attitude. Nevertheless, we have managed to put together the demonstration for International Women’s Day for years and move more and more people. This year we stand united against the shift to the right in society. Right-wing parties also strengthen patriarchy – the interests of us women are completely underrepresented. Of course, there are queer people in the alliance, including trans people. I learn something new every time, how I can be more inclusive, how we can communicate better. A lot still has to move, a lot has already changed. That gives me a bit of hope. I would wish this cohesion for society as a whole.