TEHRAN -- The first
international congress on women of influence opened here Friday, bringing more than 3,000 participants from about 90 countries.
They included actresses, academics, lawmakers, environment and civil rights activists, as well as healthcare workers, among others.
At the end of the one-day gathering, three women regarded influential in the world were awarded.
On Thursday, Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi met with some of the top attendees. He said such events can pave the way for international cooperation in the future.
The Iranian president praised the great role women have played throughout history. He expressed hope that participants attending the congress can benefit from Iran’s experiences in upholding women’s rights.
Raisi touched on the considerable improvement in the status of Iranian women in different areas and lambasted Western governments for their double standards on women’s rights, stating that their anger towards the country is due to the success of Iranian women in the Islamic establishment.
“There is no doubt that there are built-in differences between men and women, but no differences from a humanitarian perspective. There is no difference between men and women in reaching the apex of human civilization, and whoever tries harder on this path will reach the summits of morality, spirituality, and humanity,” he said.
Raisi said women have played an important role in historic events, stressing that they must neither be marginalized nor isolated in any society.
“The reactionary viewpoint about women, along with the instrumental view of Western powers and politicians towards women, is ... doomed to failure and rejected. The correct narrative is that men and women are both similar human beings, and that there are even women who influence men,” Raisi said.
He went on to note that the Islamic Republic attaches paramount significance to women’s rights, and the dignity of women is enshrined in the country’s constitution.
“The West’s anger towards the Islamic Republic is due to the fact that women can achieve success here while observing the establishment’s principles,” Raisi said.
Raisi also elaborated on the significant measures Iran has taken to improve the situation of women after victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
He pointed to the empowerment of women and improving their status in scientific, cultural, social and economic arenas while observing their human dignity.
Raisi noted that women constitute more than 30 percent of university lecturers in Iran, and close to 60 percent of university students in the country are women.
The Iranian president also hailed the outstanding role of Palestinian women in defending their legitimate cause and resistance against the occupying Israeli regime.
He said Tehran’s principled policy is to strengthen its relations with neighboring countries on the basis of mutual cooperation.
“Iran will never give in to any oppression. We call for freedom for all nations. Oppression of the Palestinian nation amounts to the suppression of the entire humanity,” Raisi said.