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?Q: What is the change you see / what are the changes you see in the conversation about women’s voice/role in the world?

?A: There would be numerous changes in the conversation about women’s voice and role in the world, but in order to be concise, I would emphasize that we are no longer in the age of Plato, who allegedly thanked the Gods for being born Greek and not barbarian, free and not slave, male and not female […], even if, sadly, from time to time, such a paraphrase is still being reported.

?Q: What still needs to be done?

?A: I agree with the position of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) that says ”women need to be listened to better”, not strengthened, as strengthening involves at least two parties in which one has the capacity to give, to offer power, making the other party inherently poor, weak or ignorant. It may also suggest that, in a paternalistic approach, one party knows what is best and what is right, and how much must be given to the other. 

If we are to speak about gender equality, it is not the attribute of men to strengthen the women, for this shows a highly unbalanced relation between men and women. It goes the same way for policymakers and for society, for women serve as policymakers and women are part of the society. The key would be to better listen to women.

 

?Q: With regards to our event theme, Women March Together, what is the glue that links us women to create a better, more conscious world?

?A: I think that the answer to the question of what it is the glue that links women together to create a better, more conscious world lies in the question itself, for it clearly presents the key-points: women together for the world, better, more conscious, and, as I see it, the most important point – women as creators.

Even if it is widely known and, shamefully, sometimes vulgarized, I consider that women are true creators of life, for they carry life and they give life. Women are conscious about themselves and by expressing themselves they continue to march together, for only women truly know what they want and what they need. All in all, as I see it, the glue that links women is consciousness. Women are conscious creators.

? Q: What is the story you would say today about women? 

? A: I remember my years as a medical student when I took part at the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations General Assembly, I think it was Canterbury (UK), August 2007, when we had a workshop held by a representative of Médecins sans frontiers MSF (Doctors Without Borders). The person in charge, whose name, unfortunately, I do not recall, was a lovely lady in her mid-40s and she worked as a doctor. She had been with MSF for more than two decades and she told us stories that could easily be turned into movies. As this would have not been enough, two of her fingers from the same hand – again, I do not recall, but I think it was her left hand – were amputated due to a wound in a war theatre. ”As per normal”, she said, ”I’m happily married with children” and laughed, ”and [this has] not stopped me from doing what I like and be wherever [in the world] I feel I am needed and I can help”.

I have nothing left to say except to stress I am, I like, I feel, I can.