The Greek Woman of the Diaspora

Dear friends,

Dear ladies,

If today we are able to speak of the creative presence of the Greek nation at the ends of the earth, we owe it largely to the Greek women of the Diaspora, who, under adverse conditions and through multiple roles, managed to keep the flame of the Greek spirit alive and pass on to the new generations the love for Greece. They are the unsung heroines who built little Greces beyond the narrow national borders and today, in the new reality created by technology and globalization, they fight to prevent the danger of the assimilation of their cultural identity, without standing in the way of functioning as citizens of the world.

Today, the Greek women of the Diaspora are successful scientists and professionals, experienced and productive workers, dynamic representatives of their communities in the institutions of political and social representation. Their role in modern reality is significant but also difficult, as what is taken for granted for the other gender is for women tied to a continuous struggle.

Undoubtedly, the Greek women of the Diaspora have left their mark on the societies they live in, as they represent half of the Greek diaspora’s potential and, therefore, half of its qualifications, abilities, spirit, and talents. However, their representation in the primary, secondary, and tertiary organizations of the Greek diaspora remains extremely low, depriving the Greek diaspora of an important contribution, as it has been proven that wherever women participate, there is greater creativity.

As the rapporteur of the European Parliament for the balanced participation of women and men in decision-making centers, I have supported the view that the exclusion of women from political decisions constitutes a serious disability for democracy, poverty, and the deprivation of our countries from the untapped imagination, abilities, ideas, and value system of half of humankind.

The Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality of the European Parliament, which I have the honor to chair, is making systematic efforts to highlight the role of women in every aspect of social life and to eliminate gender-based discrimination. For this reason, we actively participate and intervene in the dialogue developing about the future of Europe. As is well known, the major challenge currently facing the EU is institutional reform and the Enlargement of the Union.

This issue was central at the Copenhagen Conference held from November 21-23, 2002, where women parliamentarians and senators from all EU member states and candidate countries participated. The Conference resulted in a Declaration that outlines the minimum demands of women from the future Treaty, which in no case can fall short of the Community acquis in this area. Some of these demands include:

• ü Gender equality must be taken into account in all areas of policy, at all levels, and by all those involved in political processes,

• ü Community law and the law of the member states in criminal matters must address all forms of violence against women, including trafficking.

• ü Balanced participation of women and men should be a fundamental principle for all decision-making centers and be supported by actions aimed at improving the position of women as the underrepresented gender.

At the same time, another significant challenge lies ahead of us. On December 12 and 13 in Copenhagen, the European Council Summit will take place, where the historic decision regarding the Enlargement of the European Union is expected to be made. Enlargement is an irreversible historical choice and a sine qua non condition for establishing stability, democracy, peace, and prosperity on the European continent. However, Enlargement passes through the integration of Cyprus. The resolution of the Cyprus issue is not a precondition; however, as Prime Minister Kostas Simitis also emphasized, the political problem must be solved, and the sooner it is resolved, the better.

Dear friends,

Dear ladies,

In the new global order of open borders, transnational cooperation, and the movement of large population groups, communication is continuous and overwhelming. Under these conditions, the diasporas of nations today take on dimensions much larger than those experienced by the Greeks of the Diaspora in the past. They are cultural groups that not only preserve but also enrich their identity with elements from the cultures of their countries of origin and the societies of their new homelands.

The globalization of the economy and the large migratory flows that accompany it ensure that we are slowly and steadily heading towards a planet without borders and into multicultural, pluralistic, and diverse societies. Societies that must have a human face, be democratic and open to change, societies that will guarantee equality of rights and duties for all, regardless of gender, race, national origin, language, or religious belief.

In this international environment, the role of the Greek women of the Diaspora, with their dual cultural identity, can and must be a leading one.