To mark International Women’s Day, Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin EBADI and Italian astronaut Samantha CRISTOFORETTI address plenary. Extracts from the formal address. The transcription is the result of an automatic process, please check against delivery.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

International Women's Day (T)

EBADI, Shirin (IR)

president's agenda

International Women's Day Celebration: extracts from the formal address

Ambiance shots of the ceremony and short extracts from political groups

Arrival of Shirin EBADI, 2003 Nobel Peace Prize winner and Samantha CRISTOFORETTI, ESA Astronaut &amp; Commander of the ISS

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Women have changed the world. And we don't say this enough. We have with us today Commander Samantha Cristoforetti who Is the first European woman to command the International Space Station. Thank you, Samantha, for showing every young girl in Europe that they can reach for the stars.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, A Nobel Prize laureate and one of Iran's first female judges. Dr. Abadi, we appreciate the immense effort that you have made to be with us today. You embody the fight of Iranian women, the fight for what is fair and for what is right.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Captain Cristoforetti. Dr. Ebadi, your examples inspire us. You strive for a world where young girls and boys can be whatever they want to be in life, where there are no jobs that are simply for men or simply for women, where there are not even the sky is the limit. This is our goal. And again, not because women are better, but because we are different. And also very simply because it is right.

SOUNDBITE (English) Samantha CRISTOFORETTI, ESA Astronaut &amp; Commander of the ISS - It is an immense honour for me to be here today. I'm very grateful for the invitation to participate in the Parliament's celebration of International Women's Day, and I'm truly humbled by the opportunity of speaking here today at the centre of our European democracy and decision making.

Handover of the EU flag between Samantha CRISTOFORETTI, ESA Astronaut &amp; Commander of the ISS and Roberta METSOLA, EP President

SOUNDBITE (Persian), Shirin EBADI, 2003 Nobel Peace Prize winner - It is my honour to be here today. And it as a result of the fight and protests by my people in Iran, it was the Iranian women who started a revolution. As a result of which the voices of the Iranian people have been heard throughout the world, including yourselves.

Atmosphere shots of the end of the ceremony and applause