Chile making progress in women's rights, gender equality: gov't

Chile's government on Tuesday valued measures adopted to promote women's rights and gender equality in the South American country.

"During these four years of government, we have done everything humanly possible to fulfill the agenda for women," President Sebastian Pinera, who is three days away from concluding his term, said in a speech marking the International Women's Day.

Among a score of steps taken to enhance women's rights, he said, are the creation of a national registry of alimony debtors, closer monitoring of sex offenders, making sexual harassment in public spaces a crime, and protecting the right to breastfeeding in public.

Despite these advances, "we have a long way to go," said Pinera, calling on the incoming government of president-elect Gabriel Boric to "continue the cause of women, which is everyone's."

The incoming interior minister, Izkia Siches, said at a public ceremony the new government will strive to reduce the gender gap in the labor force and support working women, in terms of breastfeeding and childcare.

March 8 also saw massive marches and cultural activities condemning violence and discrimination against women in Chile.