In an interview with Simay Azadi, Helene Carreiras, Portugal’s first female Minister of Defense (2022-2024), shared her powerful reflections on the “Women, Force for Change – Free Iran 2025” conference, held by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) in Paris on February 22, 2025. The event, a prelude to International Women’s Day 2025, which brought global leaders together to honor Iranian women’s resistance against Tehran’s regime and rally support for their democratic vision.
The conference had the NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi as the keynote speaker who explained her Ten-Point Plan for a secular, democratic Iran, endorsed by over 650 women leaders from 80 countries, including Ms. Carreiras. They condemned Iran’s systemic discrimination and called for the IRGC’s terrorist designation, hailing Iranian women as a global inspiration.
I asked Ms. Carreiras how she assesses the role of women in the Iranian resistance and their situation in Iran. She replied, “We know from research that nations who fail women ultimately fail as well. The situation of women tells us a lot about the ability of a society to develop and give their citizens the basic rights to thrive. Women have been victims in many situations, and the case of Iran is particularly relevant because they’ve been so active, so protagonists in this fight. Their visibility is a force for change, really.”
I then asked about the conference’s message and her feelings participating. “It was emotional for me because I could sense the determination, the courage, the cohesion behind this movement,” she said. “The courage, the determination of these women is an inspiration for us all. It also empowers us to fight the same fight we have in our own countries, because this is a fight about democracy, human rights, it’s a fight for justice. Iranian women are not alone fighting against tyranny, against a regime that has been depriving citizens of Iran—and women in particular—of the very basic rights they should be entitled to.”
Carreiras closed with a heartfelt message to the Iranian women: “Thank you so much for what you’re doing, because you’re strong and we’ll be stronger together.”