International Women’s Day celebrations at the European Parliament paid tribute to women committed to “freedom and peace”. During the plenary session on Tuesday, 11 March, MEPs heard from the leader of the Belarusian democratic forces, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya; Belarusian activist Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk; and Ukrainian activists Leniye Umerova and Tata Kepler.
These women defend “values so many of us, too often, take for granted”, according to President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya emphasised that, for many Belarusian women, this day represents a struggle: they “don’t receive flowers; they receive prison sentences.”
She called for an increase in support for independent media and civil society.
Leniye Umerova mentioned her grandmother, whom Soviet forces had deported in 1944, and denounced the targeted repression of [Crimean] Tatar and Ukrainian women in occupied territories: “Once again, Russia is trying to destroy us.”
Involved in medical aid at the front, Tata Kepler bore witness to the horror of the crimes [committed]: “744,000 Ukrainian children were exported from Ukraine”, that is to say “kidnapped”.
She also testified about the sexual violence [that individuals had] suffered, and she advocated for her support project, ‘Silent Project’: “my youngest case was four.”
The speakers called for strong European action to protect these women and children.
Roberta Metsola offered her assurance that the European Parliament “stands with [them] because Europe is on the side of democracy—everywhere and [at all times].” (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)