At the rally speakers charged that the present authorities are persistently pursuing a policy of discriminating against women by refusing to take any step against the daily growing decrease of the rate of women's participation in economic activities and employment.

They condemned the conservative ruling forces for widening the gap between the rich and the poor in society and violating the basic rights of the women.

A "March 8 women's declaration" was read out at the rally.

Gone are the days when the women lamented over their lot with folded arms, the declaration said, calling upon all the people to pool their efforts in the struggle to build a society where the women's rights are fully ensured.

It stressed that for the present they would wage a dynamic struggle to have the conservative ruling forces eliminated through the forthcoming "elections to local self-governing bodies" and get a correct policy on the women shaped.