GREEK WOMEN’S FIGHT

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27444, 2 September 1954, Page 13

GREEK WOMEN’S FIGHT

FULL EQUALITY WITH MEN WANTED (From a Reuter Correspondent) ATHENS. Greek women’s organisations have united to fight- for full equality of rights with men. Although they won the right to vote in national elections in 1952 and there is at present one Greek woman member of Parliament, men are still reluctant to relinquish to them such male strongholds as the diplomatic service. A member of the executive committee of the organisation known as "Woman’s Rights” said: “Greek men are reluctant to grant further rights to women, and we believe that they will be forced by one means or another to make concessions.”

The secretary of another women’s organisation, "Woman Scientists’ Association,” Mrs Niki Goulandris, decided to force, the Government’s hand recently by applying for admission to the examination for embassy attaches. Mrs Goulandris, aged 28, a graduate of the School of Political and Economic Sciences of Athens University, created a sensation among officials of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs when she went to the Registrar’s Department to hand in her application. When presented with her application, the secretary in charge, astounded, hiirried off to seek the advice of his superiors. After a time, he returned to inform her that her application could be accepted, but that she must attach all necessary documents, including a "certificate of army service or exemption from service.” which is essential before embarking upon a diplomatic

‘ Ministry officials apparently thought that this request would enable them to reject Mrs Goulandris’ application since there is no conscription for women in Greece, and. therefore no certificate of exemption. But Mrs Goulandris is determined to fight her case to the end. "I shall even go to the State Council,” she said, “if the Ministry refuses my application on such grounds. For I am certain that Greece’s Supreme Administrative Court will not accept an excuse which is based upon the exemption of Greek women from conscription.” Greek Government quarters, although unwilling to make any statement before they have studied the * legal aspects of Mrs Goulandris’ case have declared that Greece will abide by the obligations deriving from the International Convention of Women’s Bights.

Much Progress Made Since 1920, when-the "Women’s Bights” Organisation was founded in Greece, Greek” women have made much progress towards full equality with men. In 1930, they won the right to vote in municipal elections—at the age of 30 and on condition that they could read and write. In 1949, they obtained equal rights with men in municipal elections, and were allowed to vote at the age of 21, even if they were illiterate. Their most significant victory'in the battle for civic rights came in 1952, when they were given the full suffrage. But women still do

not enjoy full equality or rights, or pay, with men. Greek women, who have struggled to achieve equal rights for more than 30 years, are convinced that they still have much hard work ahead before they can hope to break down the reluctance of Greek men to

give up all their traditional privileges. Both men and women in Greece are now anxiously watching Mrs Goulandris’ efforts to become the first Greek woman diplomat