An inspirational conference in Paris celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD2024) saw leading women, jurists, and women’s rights advocates from 28 countries expressing their support for the struggle of Iranian women for freedom, democracy, and equality. The NCRI Women’s Committee sponsored this event at the Mutualité Conference Center.
The keynote speaker was the NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi who underscored the need for women’s active and equal participation in leadership to realize democracy and genuine equality.
She emphasized, “The experience of the Iranian Resistance has demonstrated that the struggle against dictatorship, as seen in the ongoing fight against Islamic fundamentalists ruling Iran, and the fight for equality are not two separate endeavors. Because it is impossible to combat religious tyranny without unleashing the immense energy of pioneering women and men.”
She addressed Iran’s awakened women, especially the pioneering young generation, and said, “The salvation of millions of Iranian women, ensnared by oppression, poverty, and exploitation, lies in your hands. Rise up and let your cries echo across Iran and the entire world: No to compulsory hijab, no to imposed religion, and no to compulsory government. We can and we must overthrow the Velayat-e Faqih regime.”
Mrs. Rajavi vowed, “We say to Khamenei and the mullahs that the chains of inequality and oppression against Iranian women, alongside the shackles of religious superstitions and coercion, will no longer endure. The era of oppressing and ignoring women will come to end and you will be overthrown by these freedom-loving and liberated women.
“The day will come when no one shall face scrutiny for their attire, personal life, or religious and political beliefs. No woman will be executed, flogged, or enchained any longer. The sound of chains breaking can be heard. This is the sound of revolution. This marks the end of the medieval order and the dawn of a new order based on freedom, democracy, and equality. The NCRI’s 12-point Plan on Women’s Rights and Freedoms guarantees Iranian women’s rights in the future free Iran.”
We recommend reading the full text of Mrs. Rajavi’s remarks on International Women’s Day IWD2024.
Ms. Sarvnaz Chitsaz, the Chair of the NCRI Women’s Committee, opened the International Women’s Day event and welcomed the participants. “It is my distinct honor to welcome you to our annual International Women’s Day Conference. I am delighted that we have gathered today from corners far and wide, united by a shared vision for a future filled with equality and devoid of discrimination. This is the secret of our sisterly bond. International Women’s Day serves not only as a celebration of the milestone achieved by the women’s movement, but also as a reminder of a journey that lies ahead and that goals yet to be attained.”
In another part of her remarks, she underlined the central role of women in the Iranian Resistance. “For over four decades, Iranian women have been at the forefront of the struggle for their rights, displaying incredible courage against the regime’s brutal repression. Their bravery, as attested by the world, is deeply rooted in a century-long resistance against the Shah’s and the Mullahs’ dictatorships. Since the beginning of the Mullahs’ rule, women played a special role in our movement.
“For this reason, in the past 39 years, under Mrs. Rajavi’s leadership, the issue of women and equality has been at the heart of our movement’s focus. The National Council of Resistance of Iran’s Plan on Women’s Freedoms and Rights, released in April 1987, and predates the Fourth World Congress on Women in Beijing by eight years, marking a significant milestone in the light of equality.”
See the full text of remarks by Ms. Sarvnaz Chitsaz on our website.
The conference announced a declaration signed by more than 400 prominent women from across the world in support of Iranian women’s right to rebel against tyranny. The signatories include former ministers and members of parliament, Nobel laureates, human rights experts, former UN rapporteurs, lawyers, jurists, professors, mayors, artists, and other women’s rights advocates.
Prominent women politicians from 28 countries participated and addressed the event. They included:
Najat Vallaud Belkacem, France, Minister of National Education, Higher Education and Research (2014 – 2017) and Government’s spokesperson (2012- 2014)
Dr. Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, Latvia, President of Latvia (1999-2007)
Dr. Rosalía Arteaga Serrano, Ecuador, President of Ecuador (1997)
Anneli Jäätteenmäki, Finland, Prime Minister of Finland (2003)
Ana Helena Chacon Echeverria, Costa Rica, Vice President of Costa Rica (2014-2018)
Leymah Roberta Gbowee, Liberia, Nobel Peace Laureate (2011)
Oleksandra Matvijcuk, Ukraine, a jurist and Nobel Peace Laureate (2022)
Ǻse Kleveland, Norway, former Minister of Culture and Equality
Michele Alliot-Marie, France, Senior Minister (2009-2011), Minister of Foreign Affairs (2010-2011), Defense (2002-2007), Justice (2009-2010) and Home Affairs (2007-2009)
Ingrid Betancourt, France, former Senator and Colombian Presidential Candidate
Dominique Attias, France, Chair of the Board of Directors at the European Lawyers Foundation, President of European Law Society Federation as of March 2021, and Vice-batonniere of Paris from January 2016
Linda Chavez, USA, former White House Director of Public Liaison
Judy Sgro, Canada, Member of Parliament (Liberal Party), and Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (2003-2005)
Candice Bergen, Canada, Minister of State for Social Development (2013 – 2015) and former leader of the Conservative Party
Nargis Nehan, Afghanistan, Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum (2017-2019)
Sihem Badi, Tunisia, Minister for Women’s Affairs (2011-2014)
Kira Rudik, Ukraine, Vice President of ALDE, MP
Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir, Iceland, Member of Parliament and Minister of Education (2003-2009)
Ganna Yudkivska, France/Ukraine, Judge of the European Court of Human Rights in 2010-2022, Vice-President of the European Society of International Law
The Baroness O’Loan DBE, UK, member of the House of Lords
Kathleen Depoorter, Belgium, Member of the Federal Parliament
Naike Gruppioni, Italy, Member of Parliament
Dorien Rookmaker, the Netherlands, Member of the European Parliament
Senator Erin McGreehan, Ireland, Spokesperson of the Irish Senate on Equality and Children’s Affairs
Hanna Katrin Frioriksson, Iceland, Member of Parliament, and Chair of the Liberal Reform Party’s Parliamentary Group
Karin Liltorp, Denmark, Member of the Folketing, Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)
Katya De Giovanni, Malta, Member of Parliament and Chair of the Social Affairs Committee
Iulia Dascalu, Moldova, Member of Parliament
Malgorzata Krzyzowska, Poland, Vice President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Supreme Bar Council
Christina Blacklaws, UK, former President of the Law Society of England and Wales
The Hon. Professor Sara Chandler KC, UK, Qualified Solicitor and member of the Law Society of England and Wales
Michèle de Vaucouleurs, France, former MP, and President of the parliamentary Committee for a Democratic Iran (CPID)
Senator Carmen Quintanilla Barba, Spain, President of AFAMMER, Permanent MP at the Council of Europe, Spanish MP (2000-2019), Spanish Senator (2019-2020)
Zinat Mir-Hashemi, Iran, Member of Central Committee of the Fedayeen Organization of Iran, and Editor in Chief of Nabard-e Khalq
Felor Sadoudi, Iran, Member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
