Women protagonists from Iran to Italy; the Iranian and Italian experiences.

An online conference entitled: Illustration of the models of participation and protagonism of women in the new world order, during which the Iranian experience in social, political, and economic action was compared with that of Italy. The event was organized by the Directorate General for Women's and Family Affairs Abroad of the Organization for Islamic Culture and Relations, in collaboration with the Cultural Office of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Italy. Enriching the debate and exchange of perspectives were the distinguished speakers present: Dr. Abolfazl Eqbali, member of the faculty of the Department of Women and Family Studies at al-Zahra University; Dr. Zeinab Rastgar-Panah, Director General for Women's and Family Affairs Abroad at the Organization for Islamic Culture and Relations; the Honorable Zeinab Gheisari, member of the Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran; and Elisa Giorni, professor at the Department of Philosophy, Communication, and Performing Arts at Roma Tre University.

The debate, held in a convivial and mutually respectful atmosphere, featured a succession of different experiences (both Italian and Iranian) regarding the actual possibilities—not only theoretical but also, and above all, practical—for women to integrate into society, to infuse it with their own perspectives, and even to lead it. Dr. Zeinab Rastgar-Panah opened the discussion, presenting the key indicators of women's economic agency according to international documents: regarding financial independence and property ownership, the history of Persia, as she explained, is dotted with female figures who symbolize independence, resourcefulness, and economic management. Regarding labor market participation, the focus was on women's "invisible" work, which occurs through digital platforms or in the education and healthcare sectors without solid contracts, falling within the realm of the "informal economy." Iran also prohibits gender discrimination in pay, although the pay gap is a reality. Regarding unpaid work, according to Islam, women have no legal or religious obligation to perform household chores for free, and can even ask their husbands for payment for their work.

This was followed by a presentation by Professor Elisa Giorni, who retraced the various achievements women have achieved in Italy, from the right to vote in 1945, which was exercised the following year to elect members of the Constituent Assembly; to the renunciation of male leadership of the family in 1976, before which women were expected to obey their husbands and follow them wherever they lived; to the abolition of honor killings in 1981, which provided a reduced sentence for men who killed their wives following infidelity; to the transformation of sexual violence from a "crime against morality" to a violation of inalienable human rights; until the crime of femicide is recognized in 2025: in Italy, a femicide occurs every two days, and nearly two-thirds of these cases are committed by boyfriends, ex-boyfriends, husbands, or ex-husbands who refuse to accept the woman's decision to end the relationship or who refuse to be rejected. The professor concluded her speech by praising feminism as the driving force behind all the aforementioned changes, reclaiming the true meaning of the word, namely "the pursuit of gender equality," and not the one often attributed to it, namely "the oppression of one gender over the other."

Dr. Abolfazl Eqbali then spoke, highlighting the "Iranian Muslim woman" against the distorted and inverted narratives propagated in the West. He described women's presence and social activity not only as a right, but a duty: "Women must intervene in the fundamental destinies of society and play an effective role." Men and women complement each other, acting in synergy, and women, without sacrificing personal advancement, commitment to family matters, and the education of generations, also dedicate their abilities and potential to improving society. Women's strength lies in their uniqueness, their spiritual and motivational powers, and their crucial ability to regulate society's feelings and emotions.

The Honorable Zeinab Gheisari concluded her remarks by portraying women not only as participants in existing structures, but as their builders and directors. Examining the recent Israeli-American aggression, the parliamentarian described how women, through intelligent management of the family institution, prevented the onset of psychological and social trauma in the face of war's pressures, transforming the family into a fulcrum of peace. Furthermore, the effective presence of women in the fields of health and medical care, relief, and logistical support demonstrated that female specialization is an inseparable component of crisis management and national power. Finally, women active in the media and culture, by telling the truth, managing public opinion, and countering psychological warfare, prevented the distortion of the reality of national defense. The Honorable Gheisari then described women's capacity for action in politics as a multidimensional process that must establish a balance between human growth, cultural justice, social stability, and family solidity, identifying the central and foundational role of the family as the bridge between the Iranian and Italian traditions.

At the conclusion of the event, the Director of the Iranian Cultural Institute, Dr. Majid Emami, expressed his desire to hold further similar meetings in the near future, in order to strengthen relations between these two countries, Italy and Iran, which have been the cradles of civilization and innovation.