On Saturday, February 21, 2026, on the eve of March 8, International Women’s Day, the NCRI Women’s Committee hosted an international conference in Paris entitled “Women’s Leadership: An Imperative for a Free Iran and a Democratic Republic.” The conference, attended by women legislators, academics, thinkers, and
prominent political figures, focused on women’s political participation and leadership as a decisive element in a democratic society.
At this conference, Helena Carreiras, former Minister of Defense of Portugal(2022-2024), was present and delivered a speech. The full text of her speech is provided below:
Helena Carreiras: Iranian Women’s Struggle Matters More Than Ever in a World Dominated by Autocracies
Dear President Rajavi, dear friends, I come from Portugal, a country that survived 50 years of authoritarian rule, a country that achieved democracy through a revolution in 1974 and has sustained it for the past 50 years. We learned the price of freedom, and we have also enjoyed its benefits. Women played a vital role in that struggle, as they do in Iran, leading protests, resisting repression, and sustaining the fight across generations. We are here to celebrate and support them.
Tonight, I would like to share two points with you. The first concerns the meaning of this fight. It represents far more than a fundamental quest for rights and justice against an oppressive regime that has denied women agency and dignity. For the people of Iran and for all of us, it represents hope for a future free from dictators and tyrants, a world where democracy can be reinvented and prevail, a world that is currently under threat.
It represents the victory of collective action over fragmented reaction. Just like previous waves of protests in Iran, this year’s uprising is also the result of more than four decades of organized resistance, nationwide coordination, and the growing role of Resistance Units, many of them led or heavily staffed by women. It represents the victory of hope over fear, of compassion over despair, of solidarity over division.
At a time when autocracies outnumber democracies around the world, when books are being burned, words are being canceled, and opponents are being silenced, when our democracies are eroding from within and many people are giving up and losing trust, the meaning of Iranian women’s fight is more important than ever. We must speak up. For every single drop of blood, we must raise our voices.
While we know that words alone do not stop tyrants, we also know that silence empowers them. Peace and justice can only emerge from unity, courage, and timely action, not from bystanding.
Helena Carreiras: Iran Needs Leaders with Popular Legitimacy, Not a Hereditary Regime
My second point concerns leadership. Though the words may sound similar, democracy does not align with dynasty. Iran needs leaders who are legitimized by the people and who act based on democratic choice. Maryam Rajavi stands at the forefront of Iran’s resistance movement. Her leadership has been pivotal in fostering a generation of women leaders, both in the political arena and in direct confrontation with the regime through the Resistance Units.
Her ten-point plan for a free Iran calls for the separation of religion and state, full gender equality, individual freedoms, the abolition of the death penalty, and a non-nuclear republic. This vision has earned the support of thousands of international lawmakers and human rights advocates, including prominent women, many of whom are here with us today.
As the first woman to serve as defense minister in my country, I can testify to the importance and responsibility of leading by example. That is what Maryam Rajavi does, committing herself to the fundamental values of democracy, human rights, and ultimately the will of the people.
May that will prevail and bring about a better future for all Iranians.
