Several marches in Berlin mark International Women’s Day

As Germany marked International Women’s Day on Sunday, a series of demonstrations are taking place in the capital Berlin, spearheaded by a large march to the City Hall, where Mayor Kai Wegner has his official residence.

In alliance with other groups, the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) is leading the march under the slogan “Feminist, in solidarity, with the trade union.”

Organizers had previously registered the event with 10,000 participants.

Berlin City Hall is popularly known as Red City Hall, not because of its politics, but for the colour of the bricks it is built from. Incumbent Mayor Wegner is a conservative.

The march coincides with other planned events in Berlin and other cities championing women’s rights but also peace and disarmament and other issues.

Equality is often still lacking in everyday life, Labour Minister Bärbel Bas told dpa on the occasion of the holiday.

“Almost three-quarters of mothers still work part-time, often not voluntarily,” said Bas, also noting the wage gap, known as the gender pay gap. “Women earn on average 16% less than men and are still underrepresented in many areas of technology.”

However, she said this is not due to a lack of ability, but too often to conditions that force women to take a back seat.

Equality remains a question of respect and one “for the future of our country,” said the minister.

Minister for Women Karin Prien added: “In terms of equality between women and men, Germany is doing quite well in a global comparison. But there is still room for improvement.”

Speaking to the Rheinische Post newspaper, Prien said implementing equality is not a “nice concession” to committed women’s rights activists, but a constitutional mandate.

Large rallies were announced in several German cities, including Hamburg, Munich, Hanover and Leipzig.

Other planned events in Berlin on Sunday include the traditional “Purple Ride” bicycle tour organized by left-wing and lesbian women’s groups, with 2,000 participants expected to take part.

In the afternoon, left-wing groups were to march to the central square named after Polish-German Marxist revolutionary Rosa Luxemburg under the banner “Feminism Unlimited.”

A total of 3,000 demonstrators were registered to take part.

Another demonstration with 1,200 participants under the slogan “March 8 International” was planned for the afternoon.

Radical left-wing groups are also calling for marches under the slogans “Freedom for Palestine” and a “Revolutionary March 8 Demonstration.”