K. Mitsotakis: The message of today is imprinted on the face of the Ukrainian woman

“Without a doubt, the message of International Women’s Day is reflected in only one person: that of the Ukrainian woman. The one who stayed in her homeland to defend it from the Russian invasion, but also to the hundreds of thousands of other women who “They took the road of refuge. An unjust war that strikes the weakest first, so it must stop immediately.”

This was stressed by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis today in his speech at the Parliament, the Standing Committee on Social Affairs and the Special Standing Committee on Equality, Youth and Human Rights for the “Day dedicated to the struggles for the establishment of women’s rights”.

The Prime Minister stressed that International Women’s Day this year is an occasion not only to wish, but mainly to reflect and fight, and added that “such milestones in history, when international stability and legitimacy are threatened, national borders and “Treaties are being challenged, rights are being challenged at the same time. The quintessence of democracy.”

Mr. Mitsotakis added: “Consequently, the struggle against the occupying authoritarianism automatically becomes a struggle for gender equality and the protection of the most vulnerable. And the borders of Ukraine are turning into borders between the past and the human conquests of recent centuries. , with the dominant position among them the position of women in society “.

The Prime Minister also pointed out that all wars widen inequalities, but – he noted – the power of political liberalism is precisely that it can expand its inclusive values ​​even in the midst of great global trials.

“That is why our support for the Ukrainian woman must now be accompanied by the intensity of efforts so that every woman everywhere on earth can find the role she deserves. In a world where girls will make their dreams come true and they will mature away from obstacles and stereotypes of the past, having equal opportunities and rights in education, work, life “he added.

Mr. Mitsotakis said that Greece’s contribution to this front in recent years is extremely dynamic, because – as he said – for the first time our country acquired a national plan for gender equality under which policies are articulated at every level, from education and work to family and health.

“Thus, pay inequalities between men and women have already been bridged. Women are shielded from all discrimination in the workplace, while maternity allowance and the extension of parental leave help, especially women, to combine career with family,” he said. the Prime Minister.

Working women support programs

Mr. Mitsotakis stated that in this context, the implementation of the “Neighborhood Nanny” program for the care of children aged 2 months to 2.5 years, each employee who will join the program, begins this month.

He also said that the operation of the Women’s Innovation Center is starting with the aim of activating them in areas such as research, artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship, which are directions that are already penetrating the programs of the new school.

“Where, in addition to equality standards, skills are also cultivated. Skills that allow young girls to show off their exceptional potential,” said Mr Mitsotakis.

Gynecology

Mr. Mitsotakis referred to the inherent violence and homicides that increased during the pandemic, and stressed that the state responds with harsher punishments and strengthening the voices of “Me too”.

“Unfortunately, there is also gender-based violence in extreme forms, the murders of women that increased all over Europe and in our country during the pandemic. “metoogreece.gr”, establishing structures for the victims and raising the highest wall of protection for the most vulnerable women, the unemployed, immigrants, women with disabilities, which is why the Minimum Guaranteed Income is now given to all hosted in the hostels of abused women “said Mr. Mitsotakis.

The Prime Minister referred to domestic violence and the creation of institutions to deal with it.

“Women today are the vast majority of victims of domestic violence around the world. That is why we piloted the institution of Domestic Violence Offices in Attica and Thessaloniki with the support of the Greek Police, which also trains its staff accordingly. in cooperation with special units of France.

Soon, with the help of smart technology and in collaboration with VODAFONE, an application will allow the woman at risk to ask for help at the touch of a button on her cell phone. “The ‘panic button’ as it is known, is used in many countries and has been a request of Greek women’s organizations for many years,” he said.

Mr. Mitsotakis spoke of a “curse of gender-based violence” which certainly requires repression, but mainly – as he said – it presupposes a new culture of equality, it presupposes prevention and in this area, everyone has a role.

“State, education, family, the wider social environment. And this need for prevention, Madam Minister of Education, is served by the skill workshops that are now held in all schools of the country for sex education and gender equality. For diversity, for gender relations, for bullying.

Of particular importance is the national plan for child abuse. Because only by educating and preventing incidents of violence from a young, tender age can we raise future adult citizens without a tendency to abuse. And with greater respect for those around them “he noted.

Caring for women’s health

The Prime Minister also noted that there is a special concern for women’s health and mentioned the free integrated examinations for the prevention of breast cancer, a program named after Fofi Gennimata that will start at the end of March and which will benefit 1,300,000 women aged 50 to 69, many of whom will never have had a mammogram in their lifetime.

Also – as Mr. Mitsotakis said – from June, when the relevant program starts, free preventive examinations for cervical cancer in more than 1.5 million women.

“And we stand by these two cancers, because if these cancers are diagnosed early, the life expectancy of women who will get them will increase significantly. And finally, of course, the national public health prevention program” Spyros Doxiadis “includes special actions for physical and mental health of women “.

Mr. Mitsotakis also said that all this is not enough because leaps are required and not steps. “Ladies and gentlemen, is all this enough? I answer, immediately, ‘no.’ but at the same time, because by its very nature open democracy does not exist if it is not at the same time able to extend the rights of its citizens, just as there is no freedom without equality, there is no democracy “without women economically independent and socially enlightened,” said the prime minister.

He closed his speech by referring to both the “Ukrainian women witnesses” and the Russian mothers. “I close with my thoughts again to the women witnesses of Ukraine, to the drama they live in but also to the heroism they display. But let our thoughts also go to the Russian mother who will never see her son who lost his life as a victim again. And let’s keep up with Dostoevsky’s optimistic words that “women do everything from scratch.” “Unfortunately this year is very different as it is set on fire by the fire of war. But it becomes an occasion to think more deeply about what is happening and to fight more vigorously for what needs to be done.”

Concluding his speech, the Prime Minister stressed: “In a world threatened with change by force, Greece has already assumed its responsibilities, taking a stand on the side of peace, stability and international law. The same remains the case. her position on the side of democracy and rights which means that she will continue to face every day as Women’s Day, because as the English suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst said, we must liberate half of the human race, women, in order to liberate and the other half”.