07 March 2025
Bilbao Campus
On March 7, the 9th Extraordinary Assembly of Elected Women of Bizkaia was held at the Casa de Juntas of Gernika, where women of all political sensitivities joined together, in the framework of the commemoration of 8-M, to demand a more egalitarian society. The event also served to recognize the work of women and “pioneering” entities that have excelled in some facet. Among this year's award winners were Lorena Fernández and Miren Gutiérrez. In addition, Kristina Mardaras, Marisa Barrena, Ana Urkijo and the professional network of women artists and creators ESAS were also honored.
In a festive and vindictive atmosphere, the Assembly, organized by the Parliament of Bizkaia and the Association of Basque Municipalities (EUDEL), started next to the Tree of Gernika. Dantzaris of the Beti Jai Alai group, dressed in the old style, danced the aurresku “Women of Lekeitio”. Then, the president of the Parliament of Bizkaia, Ana Otadui; the general deputy of Bizkaia, Elixabete Etxanobe; members of the Bureau of the Chamber; the president of EUDEL, Esther Apraiz; the director of Emakunde, Miren Elgarresta Larrabide; and the honored women, entered the hemicycle united by the commemorative scarves symbolizing freedom and equality. The sound of the horn, the ancestral call to the Assembly, served as a prolegomenon to begin the extraordinary session in the plenary hall of the Casa de Juntas of Gernika.
With a hemicycle full of women elected by the citizens of Bizkaia, the president of the Provincial Chamber stressed, on the eve of International Women's Day, that this day has already become an “unmissable” event, especially for women in Bizkaia, “where we meet again to demand effective equality in all areas of life”.
Then, five elected women from other municipalities of Bizkaia and representing all political sensitivities (Ángela Eguía, mayor of Gordexola for EAJ-PNV; Guruzne Carrasson, mayor of Sopela for EH Bildu; Gamiz Mata, mayor of Ermua for PSE; Natalia Aranduy, councilwoman of Getxo for Partido Popular; and Inés Unzaga Agirre, councilwoman of Güeñes for Elkarrekin Podemos) read the Institutional Declaration of March 8 prepared by EUDEL.
The elected women of Bizkaia wanted to join this year's commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, during the Fourth World Conference on Women, which took place in Beijing in 1995. These agreements set in motion the global roadmap for achieving gender equality, the empowerment of all women and girls, and the realization of their human rights.
Similarly, the Women's Assembly also focused on the territory and, more specifically, on the work of Kristina, Marisa, Lorena, Miren, Ana and the members of ESAS (Nekane, Natalia and Ane), who, with their work, have done their bit so that women continue to fight “for equal treatment, equal opportunities and breaking the glass ceiling,” said Ana Otadui. “Women who have excelled in fields, sometimes complicated, who stand out for their intelligence, their tenacity, their tireless work and their decision not to give up in the face of adversity,” she added.
