To mark International Women’s Day (8 March), Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi and Italian astronaut and commander of the International Space Station Samantha Cristoforetti address MEPs on this debate. MEPs discuss the challenges that human rights defenders face in standing up for sexual and reproductive health and rights. Opening statements by Roberta METSOLA, EP President. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. please check against delivery.

statement

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

International Women's Day (T)

president's agenda

International Women's Day Celebration: opening statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, We move to the next item of this morning, an important one. I am very pleased dear members and dear colleagues to welcome you to this year's celebration of International Women's Day. We have a packed and very well prepared programme and I would like to ask you, dear colleagues, to welcome a number of guests as special guests that we have brought together. Before that, we will start with a round of political group speakers.