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, Rosa Romero, Chair of the Equality Commission of the Spanish Senate was present and delivered a speech. The full text of her speech is provided below:
Rosa Romero: Your Fight for Freedom and Equality Inspires Women Worldwide
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and above all, dear colleagues.
As President of the Equality Committee of the Senate of Spain, it is an honor to address you on the occasion of International Women’s Day, to express our solidarity with the women of Iran and to recognize your extraordinary leadership in the struggle for freedom and equality.
Women of Iran are not mere victims of discrimination. You are active protagonists of change. For decades, you have confronted a harsh system that imposes legal, social, and political restrictions rooted in gender inequality. Yet far from silencing you, that repression has only strengthened your determination.
Mrs. Rajavi has emphasized that equality is not a concession, indeed, equality is a right. Her Ten-Point Plan, which we have endorsed in the Senate of Spain, proposes a democratic republic based on the separation of religion and state, full legal equality between men and women, the abolition of the death penalty, and respect for fundamental rights.
My colleague Senator Rojo also referred to the slogan “Women, Resistance, and Freedom,” which we included in the resolution adopted by the Senate of Spain. That slogan is profoundly important because it symbolizes not only protest, but also a vision for the future: a country where women are not objects of guardianship, but subjects endowed with full rights.
From the Equality Committee of the Senate of Spain, we affirm that gender equality knows no borders. The defense of women’s rights anywhere in the world must be a shared responsibility, because it is a matter of human rights. As Mrs. Rajavi rightly states, women are the driving force of change, a transformative force that today inspires even greater hope, both inside and outside Iran.
You are not alone. I would like to conclude by assuring you that you are not alone. From the Senate of Spain, you have our full support, because your struggle for freedom and equality must be the struggle of all women around the world.
Thank you very much, and congratulations.
