Women’s march sees 600 participants

Approximately 600 people participated in the first Women's March in Estonia that took place in Tallinn on Saturday.

„We are very glad that so many different people took part in the march, including representatives of women's shelters and other civil society organizations. There was great joy and excitement among the participants over the first Women's March held in Estonia. This shows that many people care about the issues brought up at the march,“ Kadi Viik, one of the organizers of the march, said.

„The aim of inviting the women's associations of political parties was to give the voters information on which parties are prepared to deal with issues pertaining to women's rights,“ Liisi Raidna said. „The wage gap or difficulties receiving alimony equally impact the lives of women sporting both a national conservative and a liberal world view. One of the objectives of the march was to raise questions of equality to the level of election topics, and hopefully this will succeed as the aftermath of the participation of parties,“ she added.

The organizers of the march said that they hope drawing attention to topics concerning women's rights and representation will also bear results at the upcoming parliamentary elections and more voters than before will decide to cast their vote in favor of women and candidates who stand for reducing inequality and violence.

On Saturday, women's marches were held in dozens of cities across the world, the closest to Estonia being in Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen. The march in Tallinn was the only Women's March held in Eastern Europe.

Organizers of the first Women's March in Estonia said they dream of living in a world where the representation of women in politics, media, management, science and elsewhere is equal to that of men. The rally stands up for the notions that one's gender should not determine their pay, quality of working life, career perspectives or choices, and that women should not suffer from sexual, physical, psychological and virtual violence. The endeavor also advocates stopping climate change and practicing solidarity with other people and nations.

The Women's March in Tallinn was organized by women from various walks of life who shared an interest in women's rights and formed an underground handicraft group.

The organizers on Saturday also founded the NGO Naiste Laine (Women's Wave), which will continue work in the name of the aims of the march. Altogether 240 euros was spent on organizing the Women's March, the sum came from donations made by private persons.