With a clear voice and steadfast commitment to the defense of human rights, the Minister of Social Cohesion and Family, Domna Michaelidou, sent a strong message of support to the women of Afghanistan, during her intervention at the 59th UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Through her participation in the parallel event – via video conference – she highlighted the need for global vigilance against an institutionalized regime of gender oppression.
Ms. Michaelidou spoke with intense emotion about the reality experienced by women and girls in Afghanistan, speaking of a system of discrimination, segregation and exclusion that has erased any concept of autonomy and personal will. “An institutionalized system of discrimination and exclusion has erased any concept of freedom, under the guise of morality and with religion as a tool,” she noted.
In her speech, she highlighted the human dimension of oppression, giving voice to the women of Afghanistan who, despite the circumstances, continue to fight bravely for their dignity and rights. She particularly praised the heroism of those who spoke out publicly, bearing witness to their daily survival in a regime that has erased them from the public sphere.
Greece, as she emphasized, did not remain uninvolved. Since 2021, with the Taliban taking power, it has taken specific actions, contributing to the rescue and hosting of women who were in immediate danger. “Female parliamentarians, judges, journalists, athletes and activists have found refuge in our country. But these are only the beginning. Many more were left behind who continue to live in fear and silence,” she pointed out.
The Minister recalled Greece’s commitment, as a member of the EU and now an elected member of the UN Security Council for the period 2025-2026, to strengthening the role of women in peace processes and to mainstreaming gender in all UN structures, through the “Women, Peace and Security” Agenda.
In closing, Domna Michaelidou made her mark with a phrase that captures the purpose of her intervention, but also the basis of every democratic society: “Substantial gender equality has power and transformative potential, because it stems from the democratic principle itself. Progress for women is progress for everyone.”
In an era where inclusion and equality are not self-evident, but deeply political choices, this position is a call for action, solidarity and relentless struggle.
