Despite all past assertions and its important international historical course, which can be traced back in the first decade of the 18^th century and the very first labor movements, International Women’s Day was formally established in 1977, pursuant to a Resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations (A/RES/32/142). It is an opportunity for reflection, evaluation of the current state of play, but mostly a reminder of the need to undertake initiatives and substantial action for promoting the protection and respect of women’s rights, the fight against the various multiple forms of discrimination they still suffer, as well as the actual achievement of gender equality.

The publication, on 14 November 2023, of the Baseline Evaluation Report on Greece conducted by the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO), of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case X. v. Greece, on 13 February 2024, as well as the Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Elimination Against Women (CEDAW) on the 8^th-9^th periodical Reports of our country, on 19 February 2024, are not but a couple of examples of actions taken by International Institutions, recognizing, at first, the progress made by Greece with regard to certain levels of protecting women’s rights. Yet, they emphatically underline that typically providing for a legislative framework does not suffice, in order to confront important deficiencies and shortcomings making Greece deviate from its international obligations and highlighting the need of actual implementation and monitoring of the implementation of all legislative initiatives.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Marangopoulos Foundation, fulfilling its purpose and mandate, reminds to the Greek State the need to strengthen by all means the efforts to protect and promote women’s rights and to pursue the sensitisation and education of all citizens and competent institutions, in order for Greece to fulfill its international obligations in achieving (legal and substantive) gender equality.

The Press Release of the MFHR is available here.