Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On March 8, 2025, around 1,700–2,300 people protested in Ghent for International Women’s Day. Organised by Collectief 8 Maars Gent (35+ groups), they criticised policies in Arizona and Ghent, demanding equal pay, pensions, and safety. Spokesperson Fauve Peirelinck emphasised growing support.
On March 8, 2025, a big protest took place in Ghent, Belgium, to celebrate International Women’s Day. The protest was organized by a group called Collectief 8 Maars Gent, which is over 35 organisations. They wanted to bring attention to the fight for women’s rights, saying that these rights are always in danger. They said that recent political changes have made things harder for women.
They criticised the government in Arizona, saying it has made working conditions worse and made the difference in pensions between men and women bigger. The protesters said that women often work part-time because they take care of children and families, which makes it hard for them to have enough money. They also said that people in power don’t understand what it’s like for regular people, women, and people who need help.
We are making ourselves heard as much as possible today because acquired rights are never forever,
says Fauve Peirelinck of the collective.
The measures that are now being taken are deteriorating women’s rights.
How did 2,300 protesters in Ghent demand women’s rights?
Protesters criticized the Ghent city council for not doing enough to keep women safe. The protesters want better street lights and places where women can report problems. There was also a free festival with music, activities, and a special meal called iftar.
Organisers mentioned that there were about 2,300 people. The police said there were 1,700 people, but it was the biggest protest yet. The organisers were happy because it shows that more people are supporting the movement for women’s rights.
One of the organizers, Fauve Peirelinck, said they won’t stop fighting for equality. The organisers want to create major changes, such as ensuring women earn as much as men and enjoy equal rights in the workplace. They even wished to hold a large strike similar to the one held in Iceland, where women did not go to work for a day.
We feel the support here in Ghent, but also in other places. Our movement is growing and we will not be silenced,
Peirelinck concludes.
According to Collectief 8 Maars Gent, they are inspired by a protest that happened in Iceland on October 24, 1975. On that day, almost all the women in Iceland stopped working, both at their jobs and at home. This made the country stop working.
The protest in Iceland led to new laws that gave men and women equal rights. The group in Ghent wants to do something similar. They want to have a big protest so that the government will make changes to help women. They want better wages, pensions, and working conditions. They believe that if women stop working, the world will stop.
