Zonta Italy hosts conference for the condition of Afghan and Iranian women

Zonta Italy hosted a national conference entitled "Women on the Move for the Respect of Human Rights: The Condition of Women in Afghanistan and Iran." The event was conceived and conducted by Sonia Albanese, a Past International Director, on 7 October at the prestigious institutional headquarters, Esperienza Europa - David Sassoli. The theme is an initiative promoted by Italian Zonta clubs in Districts 14, 28 and 30.

Started with an exciting media visit to the European foundations, the conference saw the participation of top-level personalities, expressions of the world of politics, institutions and journalism with the interventions of the MEP Hon. Beatrice Covassi, Dr. Gianni Lattanzio, the general secretary of the Institute for Foreign Cooperation, Azzurra Meringolo, a journalist from the Foreign Editorial Staff of Radio1 RAI and Elisabetta Nistri, president of WFWP Italia.

The appreciation for the cultural caliber of the interventions and the positive feedback on the constructive exchange of ideas established the complete success of the event, which is a sign of the national unity of the Zonta clubs. It recorded the numerous participation of Zontian members and leaders at various levels, such as Angela Bellardi, who represents Area 3 of District 28; Renata Vallò, Area 3 Director from District 30; Laura Santagada, president of Zonta Italia; Gabriella Fumarola, the advocacy chair for Area 3; and Vice President Fernanda Gallo Freschi, as well as all the Italian club presidents.

Club President Sabine Peters from Vienna also participated in the event, giving an online lecture illustrating the activities implemented by her club to support the Afghan and Iranian communities present in the Viennese territory, as evidence of the transversal ethical network produced by Zonta.

Particularly significant were the testimonies of Patrizia Nazari and Shiva Boroumand of the Iranian community and of Batoul Haidari of the Afghan society, who demonstrated first-hand the need to continue to constitute a media voice for these women because, as President Ute Sholz has said: "a threat to the rights of women anywhere is a threat to the rights of women everywhere."