“A day dedicated to dialogue, reflection and a shared commitment to advancing the rights of women and girls”, is how Soroptimist International (SI) Costa del Sol summarised the 5th Annual Women’s Solidarity Conference for a Better World, organised by WISE (Women’s Independence and Sustainable Equality) with the support of Soroptimist members and Mijas Town Hall's Foreigners Department.

On Saturday 12th September, the event brought together Iranian women from 16 countries in Mijas to exchange experiences and knowledge in the fight for equality. The conference began with a reception for participants at the La Cala Cultural Centre, featuring a toast amongst those present, and continued with talks at the La Cala Town Hall Branch. Nilufar Saberi, one of the speakers and a member of WISE, explained that the aim of this gathering is “to create a women’s movement to achieve real, sustainable and lasting equality in the future of Iran”. “I am a chemical engineer who has worked for many years in England and I am here to stand in solidarity with women. I believe that together we can achieve anything”, added Jilla Wright, another of the speakers and a member of the same organisation.

 

SI Costa del Sol and the Foreigners Department backed this initiative in solidarity with women. “We are holding this conference together because it is about solidarity. We want all women around the world to have a voice, a presence, education and leadership”, explained the president of Soroptimist, Aura Roderick. For his part, the councillor for Foreigners, Mario Bravo (PP), explained that “women from 16 countries are gathering in Mijas to help one another, support one another and demand that full equality guaranteed not only by the constitutions of almost all democratic countries, but also by common sense”.

Afternoon session

Following the morning presentations, the 5th Annual Women’s Solidarity Conference for a Better World continued with a wide-ranging programme. “After a fantastic Iranian lunch, we had several workshops in different languages, giving people the chance to talk face-to-face, and I think that was also very important”, emphasised the secretary of SI Costa del Sol, Dafne Theuissen.

As a closing event, an activity open to the public was held in the square outside La Cala Town Hall Branch, combining various cultural traditions, from Iran’s Dance for Freedom to songs in Spanish and English performed by Mami Curl. “Soroptimist contacted me last year for an event because I am from Mijas; I support quite a few local causes and associations, and it’s a pleasure for me to support anything that benefits the local people, those who contribute to Mijas, and above all, to support women”, said Sara Ramirez de Arellano, known as Mami Curl.

The event also featured the singer Katy Evoghli, who collaborates with WISE as an Iranian woman and as a member of the Bahá’í community, a religion heavily persecuted in Iran for its beliefs. “I write songs about social awareness and issues related to human rights, and I really enjoy collaborating with organisations such as Amnesty International or human rights groups, which is how I met WISE”, explained Evoghli, who also performed on Saturday morning as part of the conference programme.

 

The event culminated in the iconic song ‘Bella Ciao’, followed by a Kurdish dance in which the audience was invited to join in as a symbolic gesture of collective strength, joy and unity.

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