The First Lady of the United States, Jill Biden of Costa Rica, highlighted the role of women in society and lamented that she was often silenced “with violence and intimidation”.
“Empowered women drive the economy and are at the heart of a strong democracy‘ she said during a Saturday afternoon meeting with Costa Rican women entrepreneurs as part of her official visit to Costa Rica, which will end on Monday.
“We have never been silent but women were silenced. With violence and intimidation. With discrimination and isolation,” stressed Biden.
He questioned that in many places “Household work” is exclusively a woman’s job. “For many women around the world, simply speaking out is a struggle. They had to fight for a seat at the table,” he added.
She said the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many women to lose “the footsteps” they had won, forcing them “to choose between caring for children and a career that gives them economic freedom and a… gave sense of sense”.
The comments come at a time of debate in the United States over abortion rights, after the leak of a draft Supreme Court ruling in early May seeking to overturn a 1973 ruling that guaranteed national abortion access guarantees level set. National.
Meanwhile, on May 19, the Oklahoma legislature passed legislation that prohibits abortion by fertilization, while Archbishop of San Francisco Salvatore Cordileone banned House Speaker Nancy Pelosi from receiving communion for supporting abortion rights.
Jill Biden’s visit to Costa Rica comes two weeks after conservative economist Rodrigo Chaves took over the country’s presidency. On Saturday, Biden had dinner with the President and First Lady of Costa Rica, Signe Zeicate.
Chaves was sanctioned for sexual harassment by the World Bank, where he worked for 30 years. Shortly after his election, he apologized to the women who denounced him and promised a leadership that “tolerates no harassment”.
This Sunday, Biden is visiting the National Children’s Hospital to sign a collaboration agreement between the University of Pennsylvania and this medical center. On Monday, he will tour a US Embassy-sponsored center that offers English and computer classes.
Costa Rica is the final leg of the First Lady’s tour of the region, having previously visited Ecuador and Panama. (I)