Women Parade In Spain And Madrid Calling For Gender Equality

Women in Spain have just staged the country's first national "feminist strike" and politicians are taking notice.For decades, Spanish women did what women all over the world do on International Women's Day — held protests, seminars and marches.

But this year they tried something different: Taking part in an unprecedented national strike.

"Yearly demonstrations are not enough to make the situation for women improve," journalist and feminist Cristina Mas said.

"Like all workers in the world, a strike is the way for us to defend our rights and so we chose to use it."

The two main trade unions supported half-day stoppages and estimated that nearly 6 million people took part.

Unai Sordo, general secretary of Comisiones Obreras, a union with more than one million members, called it a "historic day".

The result was felt across the nation, with many schools and universities closing, public transport reduced to holiday schedules and essential services cut back to a minimum.