{"id":256440,"date":"2022-03-05T08:54:14","date_gmt":"2022-03-05T13:54:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=256440"},"modified":"2023-02-04T04:57:21","modified_gmt":"2023-02-04T03:57:21","slug":"live-report-global-conference-marking-march-8-international-womens-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/women\/live-report-global-conference-marking-march-8-international-womens-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Live Report: Global Conference Marking March 8, International Women’s Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Women-Force-for-Change_EN-min-1\"<\/p>\n

Dozens of women leaders, lawmakers, influencers, and activists from around the world have gathered in Berlin, Germany, and joined thousands on an online conference to honor International Women’s Day and call for solidarity. Organized by the National Council of Resistance of Iran, whose membership consists of more than 50 percent women, the Global Conference in Berlin wants to get convey the message that change is necessary, inevitable, and past due.<\/p>\n

\"Maryam-Rajavi-8-March-2022-05\"<\/p>\n

Connected online to Ashraf 3 in Albania as well as hundreds of other locations around the world, the conference expresses its support for the struggles of women worldwide, especially the resistance of Iranian women for freedom, equal rights, and elimination of unjust discriminations.<\/p>\n

\"NCRI-Womens-Committee-Chair-Sarvenaz-Chitsas\"<\/p>\n

In her opening remarks, NCRI Women’s Committee Chair Sarvenaz<\/span> Chitsas<\/span><\/span> praised the resistance of the women of Ukraine who are actively joining their brothers in defending their country from invasion.<\/p>\n

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THIS PAGE IS BEING UPDATED AS THE CONFERENCE PROCEEDS<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran<\/h3>\n

\"Maryam-Rajavi-8-March-2022-04\"<\/p>\n

International Women\u2019s Day is celebrated by those who have been deprived of most empowerment opportunities but are harbingers of humankind\u2019s power and responsibility in today\u2019s world.\u00a0And today, I extend my warmest greetings to the proud people of Ukraine, especially to the valiant women of that country.<\/p>\n

Millions of women and girls have risen up for freedom and rushed to the battlefield in droves; from ministers and parliamentarians to elderly mothers, have taken up arms. Hail to mothers who sent their children to others so that they could themselves join the resistance, and to smiling and spirited young girls who make Molotov cocktails.<\/p>\n

I am reminded of women and girls of the People\u2019s Mojahedin in the massacre of our prisoners in 1988 on Khomeini\u2019s fatwa. They walked to the gallows with clenched fists and while chanting defiantly.<\/p>\n

The Ukrainian people\u2019s resistance is not only an epic in defending the honor and survival of their country but also a turning point in reviving the culture of unswerving resistance in today\u2019s world.\u00a0They stood up and challenged the West\u2019s appeasement and passivity. They stood up and motivated the world to support them. Their people and soldiers have stood up firm like steel. Let us call International Women’s Day this year the day of resistance by the women of Ukraine. And let us stand up and applaud them for one minute.<\/p>\n

Women pioneer protest movements <\/strong><\/p>\n

Congratulations on this day to all the women around the world, especially my sisters in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Palestine, and Lebanon.\u00a0International Women\u2019s Day is a day of pride and honor for Iranian women. Because throughout this year, as in the past four decades, they have stood against the monster of misogyny, coercion, plunder, and oppression.<\/p>\n

Throughout the past year, women were at the forefront everywhere in all protest movements, from the uprisings in Khuzestan, Isfahan, and Shahrekord to the protests of teachers, nurses, and the defrauded investors.<\/p>\n

On November 21, when the uprising of the brave Bakhtiari people reached its peak, the brave women of Shahrekord were the ones who stepped on a platform outside the governorate, calling on the people to continue the uprising.<\/p>\n

In the past year, Iranian teachers have held 19 nationwide strikes and protests, which at times spread to 80, 100, or 116, or 200 cities and counties. In all these protests, women teachers played a pivotal role.<\/p>\n

At the same time, selfless women and girls formed their Resistance Units in various cities. They opened the way for anti-regime protests by their activities against repression.\u00a0This is the real image of Iranian women.<\/p>\n

Resistance gives credibility to a nation\u2019s raison <\/strong>d\u2019<\/strong>\u0207<\/strong>tre<\/strong><\/p>\n

The men and women of this movement, who are at the forefront of the Iranian people’s struggle against religious tyranny, have revived the value of resistance. They have chosen not to succumb to oppression and keep paying whatever the price for eliminating it. They shattered many superstitions and reactionary prohibitions and paved the way for the resistance to advance.<\/p>\n

Even under heavy blows, they maintained their lively spirit. They have always given priority to the movement’s interests over their own to keep alight the flames of the fight for freedom.\u00a0They gave up their homes and families, their parents, spouses, and children to join the ranks of the resistance and have happily accepted the pain of such separation.<\/p>\n

They did not think about what the outcome would be. Whether they will win or not? Instead, they focused on their responsibility to liberate their people and homeland.\u00a0In the face of the enemy and its repressive forces, despite the extremely unequal balance of power, they showed no fear. They have insisted that a determined group, albeit small and limited, could pave the way for victory and turn the circumstances in favor of the people.<\/p>\n

Women, force for change and progress<\/strong><\/p>\n

Despite their profound suffering, the two-year calamity during the Coronavirus pandemic and half-a-million fatalities, and widespread poverty and hunger, today Iranian women speak not about their grief but about hope for freedom and equality. They speak not about their pain but of a future that is not a distant dream and is achievable.<\/p>\n

After the mullahs’ overthrow, Iran will be safe from the bitter experiences of the past, only if there is a real democracy with freedom and equality. And you women are the ones who can make this happen.<\/p>\n

As stipulated in the NCRI\u2019s Plan on Women\u2019s Rights and Freedoms, individual freedoms for women, including freedom of belief, religion, employment, travel, and choice of clothing, are inevitable imperatives. Indeed, I must stress that freedom must be achieved, and it is up to you to earn it through your struggle.<\/p>\n

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International Women\u2019s Day is a day of pride and honor for Iranian women. Because throughout this year, as in the past four decades, they have stood against the monster of misogyny, coercion, plunder, and oppression. #IWD2022<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/4TN9N1yu5Z<\/a><\/p>\n

— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) March 5, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n