Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Sangay Choden Wangchuck, joined the people of Haa to celebrate the International Women’s Day today. Over 2000 people including teachers, students, civil servants and locals came together for the celebrations.
In her address to the people, Her Majesty the Queen Mother, talked about the importance of Women’s Day to celebrate the achievements and progress of women.
Her Majesty also spoke on the importance of gender equality and elimination of domestic violence to achieve Gross National Happiness.
Her Majesty also inaugurated a female leadership training manual titled “Strengthening Female Leadership in Farmers’ Groups and Cooperatives”. The book will help improve leadership skills of women and enhance their participation and decision making in communities.
Bhutanese women say more women should take part in the development process of the Country. There have been complaints of fewer women in the parliament and cabinet.
With the theme “equality for women is progress for all” the day was also observed in other parts of the Country.
“I feel that there is less participation from the women side. If we have equal participation from women like in development activities then there will be progress.
“Some feel that women cannot do equal to men but if opportunity is given they can do, so that is what I feel equality for women is progress for all,” said Tandin Wangmo, RENEW Dzongkhag Co-ordinator of Trongsa.
According to one of the volunteers, Dolma, women were confined within the house and mainly in the kitchen in the past. “Women were never given the opportunity to do what men were doing. They were also underestimated but today we have come a long way. We can now see women holding constitutional post, in the parliament and in the civil service. So in this way we have really progressed,” she said.
However, there are still challenges surrounding women, she added. “Still today, men and the society as a whole prefer women to be confined within the household chores despite the same education and qualification. When it comes to leadership people think men are better than women and this is the reason why we have a countable number of women holding high post,” Dolma said.
The event across the country was organised by renew volunteers.
