Opening of the exhibition

on 75 women in 75 years of the Council of Europe history

Council of Europe, Strasbourg (24 June 2024)

Speech by Theodoros Rousopoulos

President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

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Distinguished guests, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, dear colleagues,

Today, we have gathered to honour the achievements, strength and resilience of 75 women, one for each year of existence of the Council of Europe, each of whom has changed the status quo in her own way and accomplished remarkable work in the fields of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.

This exhibition offers a unique opportunity to learn about these amazing women and their impact on the work of our Organisation.

The vision of the Council of Europe is to safeguard and promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

Guided by these values, which we deeply honour and believe in, as the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, I can assure you that we prioritise addressing injustices and violence against women and promote their empowerment in all their diversity both in Europe and beyond.

We must continue to strive until an inclusive democratic society is created where all human rights are secure, and equal opportunities exist for all.

In honour of this effort, the first Vigdis Prize was awarded today, and we are all very happy and satisfied with this recognition.

The award was inspired by Vigdís Finnbogadóttir from Iceland, the first elected female president in the world and is aimed at individuals who fight for the empowerment of women, gender equality, equal access to participation and decision-making, and the encouragement of inclusive policies and practices.

I would like to thank the Delegation of the EU to the Council of Europe and the Permanent Representations of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, who organised this amazing exhibition.

Your initiative to raise awareness about these women, who have contributed to the work and development of the Council of Europe from its inception to the present is truly inspiring.

It allows us to observe the significant changes over these 75 years.

The increasing number of women involved is a testament to the effectiveness of their efforts.

Their empowerment does not mean the loss of power for men.

Quite the contrary, we must realise that a shared empowerment increases potential and accelerates progress.

Women are wonderful and deserve our admiration.

Let us meet these 75 women from the 75 years of the Council of Europe’s history.

Thank you.