08/03/2026 Secretary General of the Assembly
Opening a public speaking competition for young people hosted by the National Council of Monaco to mark International Women’s Day, Despina Chatzivassiliou, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly, recognised the important role played by young people in promoting equality, and emphasised the importance of solidarity between generations to achieve greater empowerment and equality.
“Young people are not only the future of equality, they are already driving it forward. They bring dynamism, new impetus and fresh ideas, which are essential for addressing today's challenges and building inclusive and sustainable policies," she said.
"Institutionalising sisterhood, making room for it and providing it with resources is not just symbolic. It is structural. It increases the participation of young women in all their diversity and strengthens the representativeness, legitimacy and relevance of public decisions."
"It is precisely for this reason that, in 2022, on the occasion of International Women's Day, I created the Women@PACE group, which offers all women in the Assembly a space to come together across party lines, generations, and national delegations," she concluded.
During her visit, Ms Chatzivassiliou met with the President of the National Council Thomas Brezzo, and members of Monaco's PACE delegation, led by Béatrice Fresko-Rolfo, as well as Céline Cottalorda, Monaco’s Interministerial Delegate for Women's Rights.