Bhutan

Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All

More than 700 students and community members of Gedu along with government officials, members of the international community, and NGOs observed the 2010 International Women's Day at the Gedu Business College on 8^th March 2010.

In her message for the day, the UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and President of RENEW (a local NGO), Her Majesty, the Queen Mother, Ashi  Sangay Choden Wangchuck urged the government and the Bhutanese people to take the personal responsibility to embrace the theme of the day, Equal rights, equal opportunities:  progress for all. She further stated, "This year's theme resonates His Majesty's vision of Gross National Happiness; if we are to uphold this noble vision, we must put an end to the reproduction of attitudes and beliefs that obstruct women from accessing their full potential."

UN Resident Coordinator a.i,  Ms. Gepke Hingst in paying tribute to women across the world for their contributions to the well-being of their families, communities and nations, acknowledged the challenges still faced by women in achieving true equality. Drawing from her own personal experiences,  she called on women in leadership positions to facilitate the way in for the girls of today to exercise their right to education, making it easier for them to take advantage of the equal opporunities and pursue their professional dreams.

As part of the day's programme, Her Majesty the Queen Mother also officially launched the 2010 Asia-Pacific Human Development Report, Power, Voice and Rights: A Turning Point for Gender Equality in Asia and the Pacific.

The 2010 International Women's Day was organized by RENEW with combined support from the UN System in Bhutan.