Queen mother's address for International Women's Day

The following speech was beautifully read by one of the students on March 8th. 

Good Morning, 

I am very happy to be here today to celebrate International Women's Day with our young students. 

The 21st centre has witnessed significant progress int he protection and promotion of women's rights.  The journey has been long and difficult - filled with many sacrifices made by women form all corners of the globe. 

We celebrate this day to pay our tribute to all the selfless and courageous individuals who have toiled to fight for equality and justice. While we celebrate our accomplishments we must not be complacent - as there is still much to be done to ensure that women all over the world enjoy the freedom to live in dignity. 

Over the years nations and international organizations have drafted and enacted legislation and resolutions to enhance the rights of women.  We have pledged our unstinting support - and yet there still remains unacceptable inequality.

It is perhaps for this reason that this year's global theme is "a promise is a promise".  It is time to act - to ensure that our young girls have the opportunities to pursue their dreams without the obstacles of gender bias and discrimination. 

On 14 February Bhutan was one of 200 countries that took part in the One BillionRising.  We pledged to put an end to violence against women - a promise we must keep. 

Governments and international organizations can pass laws and regulations, but they alone are not sufficient.  Therefore, it is vital for every stakeholder to proactively strive to overcome the years of bias - that have inhibited young girls from living meaningful lives.  We need to change attitudes and perceptions that have kept women from realizing their true potential. 

Sonam Choden, the teacher that has left to be a VP, wrote the following speech which she read at the assembly on March 8: 

International Women’s Day

“Woman is the companion of man, gifted with equal mental capacity...
If by strength is meant moral power, then woman is immeasurably man's superior...
If non-violence is the law of our being, the future is with women...”

Mahatma Ghandi

International Women's Day is observed in many countries around the world. It is a day, a moment “when women are recognized and remembered for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political” (UN WOMEN). It is a day for us to look back on past struggles and accomplishments of women. More importantly, it is an occasion for looking ahead to the unexploited or untapped potential and opportunities that wait our future generations of women.

It is a time for us to reflect on progress made, to call for positive change in attitude and action towards women and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of countries and communities across the globe.

Since the theme for the International Women’s Day for this year is “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women”, it is an occasion for us to reflect on what has been overcome, where we stand and the obstacles that still remain. One of the most violated and deadliest violations of women’s right across the globe is violence against women. Violence against women not only harms families but also communities across generations and reinforces other violence in the society. The continual violence against women is due to the persistent discrimination against women across all borders.

Violence takes many shapes and forms – physical, sexual, psychological and economic (Ms Irina Bokova, UNESCO 2013), which are interrelated and affect women at all stages of their life.

Physical violence inflicted by an intimate partner is the most common form of violence experienced by women. It includes women getting beaten up, coerced into sex or abused otherwise.

Sexual violence including early marriage is also a common violence committed against women. “It is estimated that one in five women worldwide become a victim of rape or attempted rape in her lifetime” (UN Department of Public Information, 2009). Sexual violence in conflict is a serious crime affecting mostly women and girls. It is not unknown to us that woman as old as grandmothers and as young as toddlers have suffered violent sexual abuse at the hands of military.

Other violence against women includes female genital mutilation, dowry murder, honour killing, human trafficking, and violence during pregnancy and discrimination. 

According to RENEW (2007), in Bhutan violence against women exist at different levels - violence against women within the family which, consist of intimate partner violence and violence against women in the community which includes sexual violence by non-partners and sexual harassment and violence in the workplace, educational institutions and in sport. 

To reduce and overcome violence against women, laws alone are not enough, we must support each other and women in particular in becoming leaders in all fields of human endeavor, including education, culture, communication and information. We must do whatever we can to empower women and ensure equality. This can only be realized if we challenge every form of violence against women when it occurs. Let us unite to realize the declaration “Promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women”. A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand. So let us unite for this common cause.

Prepared by 

Sonam Choden