Democrats Abroad Spain Women’s Caucus
Democrats Abroad (DA) is an international organization and serves as the official arm of the US Democratic Party, supporting the nine million Americans living abroad. DA strives to provide overseas Americans with a voice in government, and works to elect Democratic candidates by mobilizing voters from around the world.
The Spain-based portion of the organization is extremely active and involved with local Americans. To execute and support its many events, activities and outreach campaigns, DA Spain has an executive committee, along with distinct chapters in Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia and Alicante. Most recently, great interest was expressed that the global Women’s Caucus should have a Spain-based offshoot. The Women’s Caucus Spain was born out of this interest for a local Democratic women’s advocacy group.
What Is the Purpose of the Women’s Caucus?
While getting out the vote is the main objective of Democrats Abroad, the Women’s Caucus hopes to reach out to all US citizens living in Spain to provide information and support, and to create a sense of community, building on the Global Women’s Caucus mission statement of “education, community building and activism.” The Women’s Caucus has already sponsored a number of events, among them a paella-cooking class taught by a professional chef. Beyond this, currently in the works is a “Living in Spain” series which will focus on subjects that are of vital importance to overseas Americans. Americans living outside the US face a specific set of challenges which are often difficult to navigate. In some cases, life-changing decisions with potentially grave consequences have to be made. Reliable and accurate information to base those decisions on can often be tough to come by. Americans who have been born and raised in Spain might not even realize what sorts of compliance requirements they are subject to just by virtue of holding American citizenship. Spain’s Women’s Caucus aims to fill the information gap for Americans of all stripes by offering seminars, where subject matter experts explain the nuances in relevant laws and regulations and where attendees can pose their own questions and voice their own concerns.
The Living in Spain series addresses hot button issues, like taxes (both Spanish and US), Spanish residency, wills, trusts and general estate planning, along with a slew of other complex issues that universally affect Americans. The format of this series will take the shape of monthly one-hour webinars, starting in the fall of 2021. These sessions hope to answer questions and provide information for Americans who have just arrived in Spain, have been long-time residents, are raising a family or have retired. In short, these webinars will benefit every American who would like to take advantage of them.
Beyond this, the Women’s Caucus is taking the well-rounded approach of addressing a host of current issues, providing background information and proposing action. Examples include the ERA, abortion rights, violence against women, immigration and LGBTQ topics. If you feel frustrated by the current state of affairs in the US, the right-leaning Supreme Court and the detritus of the Trump administration, joining the Women’s Caucus will give you a chance to stay informed and active, while lending your support to the Biden Harris Administration. The Women’s Caucus will help you find ways to make your voice heard from across the ocean.
Activism, Culture and Integration
DA’s Women’s Caucus Spain works closely with the Global Women’s Caucus to highlight and publicize their many activities, which range from hosting guest speakers from the US and organizing informative webinars to creating social events, like book clubs and the sharing of stories as part of the “#MyStory” campaign. Recently, the Global Women’s Caucus played a key role in organizing and providing support materials for the October second reproductive rights protests, supplying the global DA membership with a complete tool-kit, including talking points, printable posters, social media graphics and ideas for virtual events.
Finally, we should remember that the Women’s Caucus of Spain is based in a beautiful country shaped by its own set of political, social and cultural issues. How women are treated in Spanish society is every bit as impactful, if not more so, on American lives in Spain. The Women’s Caucus Spain has made a commitment to assist its members with integration into Spain’s society, by providing information and highlighting local women’s issues. The aim is to build broad and sturdy bridges between both of the countries that Spain-based Americans call home.
Doris Stanger is Chair of Women’s Caucus Spain and Sarah Boccard is Chair of Spain’s Strategic Communications Team. For more information visit the Democrats Abroad website at democratsabroad.org/es or contact Doris Stanger, caucus leader at womencaucusspain@gmail.com.