On Mother’s Day, mothers across the globe gathered in various cities to protest against injustice and to advocate for the rights of their children. In Mexico City, mothers demanded justice for their missing children, while in Uganda, mothers showed support for their LGBTQIA+ children amidst oppressive legislation. The protests were an unapologetic display of the fight that so many mothers are fighting. They called for systemic reforms to ensure the safety, civil rights, and dignity of all.
In Mexico City, mothers with flowers and placards confronted passersby and marched through the streets calling out for their missing children. Official government data shows that at least 124,000 people are still disappeared today in Mexico. This 185 billion dollar per year figure should illustrate the tremendous opportunity and need for action. The purpose of this demonstration was to visualize the thousands of lost children. It paid tribute to the mothers who have sadly lost their lives in the search for them.
“They’re people who disappear, not files, not documents; they are our children, our fathers, our mothers who have disappeared,” – Janet Adame, mother of Pablo Jared Vallejo, who went missing in July last year.
The grief mingled with hope in the voices of the mothers speaking at the rally. Teresa Corona, another mother participating in the protest, stated, “We all deserve to find our children alive. Why do we have to live with fear?” Her words struck a chord with thousands as they pleaded with leaders to take urgent action.
Global Voices for Justice
The protests were not confined to Mexico. In Uganda, an incredible alliance of mothers came together to advocate for their LGBTQIA+ children. They have been vocal against their country’s anti-homosexuality act. The mothers emphasized their commitment to love and acceptance, stating, “We are not promoters of any agenda; we are Ugandan mothers who have had to overcome many of our own biases to fully understand, accept, and love our children.”
The urgency of their cause was highlighted by a Ugandan mother who remarked, “This law shows us that we are not equal.” Together, they combined their voices to make some noise. Deeply, together, behind their children, these families stood up to legislation that would strip their kids’ rights and security.
Back home in Germany, mothers marched the streets of Berlin calling for equality, and an equal seat at the decision-making table. They articulated a clear vision for social change: “Mothers must finally take centre stage in social decision-making.” The demonstrators too demanded the federal government invest in trauma-informed de-escalation training for first responders, and comprehensive national consent laws.
“My favourite season is the fall of the patriarchy,” – a sentiment echoed by many German women during the protest.
Protests Across Australia
In Australia, actions took place across capital cities such as Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth, as well as Hobart and other cities. Indigenous-led not-for-profit organization What Were You Wearing? was responsible for the rallies. It was their intention to draw attention to the widespread violence that women face. One mother at one of these events offered a profound observation. She pointed out that with the timing of organizing these rallies on the eve of Mother’s Day, the intersectional work and fight for justice and equality rang very clear.
As with Australia’s protests, organizers wanted to draw attention to shocking counts of violence against women. Just last month, reports surfaced that twenty-five women had been murdered from January to May of this year alone. This disturbing trend is a clarion call for systemic reform.
As mothers united across continents, their messages resonated with a shared goal: to create a safer and more equitable world for their children. They were united in solidarity, fighting for the change they knew extended beyond their own borders.
