Several dozen people gathered outside the Government Office on Monday, March 8, to protest against the manner in which the leading coalition Smer party, headed by Prime Minister Robert Fico, celebrated International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8, the TASR newswire reported.

The demonstrators disliked the fact that Smer organised a series of meetings across Slovakia at which they said a number of sexist jokes were told instead of discussions on women’s rights.

“It’s turned into an undignified farce,” said Adriana Mesochoritisová from a civil association called 'Option of Choice'. She added that IWD is a day on which women’s rights should be fought for.

“We don't believe that this can be celebrated with sexist jokes that disparage women. This is no IWD celebration,” she added.

The protest was also aimed at pointing out that Slovakia is failing to comply with its commitments in the area of women’s rights, said Mesochoritisová. The gatherers laid several red roses outside the main entrance to the Government Office, noting that “the premier won't shut them up with flowers.”

Representatives of 'Option of Choice' and another civil association, 'Queer Leaders Forum', also drew up an open letter to Fico in which they reminded him that “discrimination against women is a harsh reality all over the world”, including in Slovakia. Giving away roses is no way to tackle it, they added. The associations also demand that Fico apologise for the jokes made at Smer rallies marking IWD. TASR

Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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