Paris - Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
A statement by the National Council of Resistance of Iran, a copy of which we received, said that the International Women's Day conference in Paris on Saturday brought together an exceptional group of political leaders, activists and human rights defenders to highlight the ongoing struggle for women's rights and democracy.
The event, which was attended by prominent international figures, witnessed a display of the vital role women play in the struggle for freedom, where Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, delivered a moving keynote speech.
In it, she stressed that the time has come for change. She declared that the Iranian regime is on the verge of collapse, and women are at the forefront of the resistance movement.
Rajavi said: "Freedom confronts tyranny, and there is no doubt that dictatorship is doomed to disappear." She pointed out that the Iranian people overthrew the Shah in 1979, and that the current movement - which is an organized uprising this time - will succeed in dismantling the theocratic regime.
She also highlighted the courage of young Iranian women leading protests under the slogan “Women, Resistance, Freedom,” emphasizing that their struggle is not just about the veil but about restoring basic human rights. She emphasized the NCRI’s vision for a democratic Iran, saying: “No to compulsory veil, no to compulsory religion, no to compulsory rule.”
Global Voices in Support of Iranian Women’s Resistance
The conference featured a distinguished group of global leaders who expressed their support for Iranian women and the broader struggle for democracy.
Michèle Alliot-Marie, former French Foreign Minister, spoke passionately about the responsibility of women in free societies to support those who are deprived of their rights. “This International Women’s Day is a day of action for freedom, for democracy, for equality,” she said, acknowledging Rajavi’s dedication to this cause.
Rosalia Arteaga Serrano, former President of Ecuador, praised Maryam Rajavi as a visionary leader. “Iranian women are an unstoppable force,” she said, calling for the restoration of human rights and democratic governance in Iran. She affirmed her support for Rajavi’s 10-point plan and condemned human rights violations against women in Iran.

Former Finnish Prime Minister Anneli Jättinimäki also condemned the systematic discrimination against Iranian women, noting their exclusion from leadership positions and unfair treatment under the law. “Iranian women have not given up. They have realized that the only way forward is to resist,” she said. She praised the National Council of Resistance’s dedication to gender equality and democracy.

Ingrid Betancourt, a former Colombian senator and presidential candidate, rejected claims of a divided opposition, asserting that both the Shah’s regime and theocratic rulers are rejected by the Iranian people. “The Iranian resistance is unique because it is the only organization with women at the core of its leadership,” she said.
In her speech at the conference, Linda Chavez, former White House Public Affairs Director, said that many transformations have taken place in the region this year. She specifically referred to the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria, explaining that Assad, who had been supported by the Iranian regime and had killed more than 600,000 of his own people, had now been expelled from Syria in humiliation, taking refuge in Russia. Ms. Chavez also addressed the importance of these changes in the future and said that if dictatorial regimes like Assad had survived in the region in recent years, we could witness the fall of similar regimes next year, especially the Iranian regime. She stressed that these changes would not come from foreign interventions, but would come only from the Iranian people who must choose their own leadership. She also praised the leadership of Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the leader of the Iranian Resistance, as a symbol of change in Iran and stressed the need to achieve freedom and human rights in the country. Linda Chavez praised Rajavi’s 10-point plan, comparing it to a bill of rights. She called for an end to the misogynistic Iranian regime and stressed that the Iranian people must have the right to choose their leadership democratically. In one of the most moving interventions, Dominique Attias, President of the European Lawyers Foundation, dedicated her speech to political prisoner Maryam Akbari Monfared. She told her story of 15 years in prison on false charges and her steadfast resistance against the regime’s atrocities. “Madam Rajavi, you spoke to us about these women who sacrificed their lives for freedom, for the cause, for Iran. You made us cry…” she said, then recounting her protests from inside one of Iran’s harshest prisons, concluding with a powerful appeal: “Women, resistance, freedom!” During the conference, speakers from diverse backgrounds were united by a common vision: that the future of Iran, and thus the world, depends on the empowerment of its women. Their collective message was clear: Iranian women, who have borne the brunt of systemic repression and made enormous sacrifices for their country, are not only the bearers of a long historical legacy, but also the inevitable architects of a future defined by freedom, equality and justice. Other distinguished speakers included: • Candice Bergen, former Minister of State for Social Development, Canada
• Baroness O’Loan, Member of the House of Lords, UK
• Theresa Villiers, former UK Minister
• Anna Firth, former UK MP
• Helen Goodman, former UK Shadow Minister
• Katja Adler and Sandra Weisser, members of the German Bundestag
• Naki Gruboni, Italian MP
• Kathleen Depoortier, Belgian MP
• Yakin Ertürk, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women (2003-2006)
• Helena Carreras, former Minister of National Defence, Portugal
• Anne Ramberg, European Human Rights Judge
• Gisso Shakeri, Iranian artist and activist
• Karin Liltrop, Danish MP
• Sihem Baddi, former Minister of Women’s Affairs, Tunisia, and more