Remarks by Former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon’ble Sujata Koirala on March 8, 2021 at the program organized by Girija Prasad Koirala Foundation and World Yoga Community NGO@UNDGC on the occasion of the International Women’s Day.

Frist of all,  I would like to extend my sincere and warm greetings to  you all on the occasion of International Women’s  Day.

 

I  sincerely  thank Dr. Li Ruohong, the President of the China World Peace Foundation  for inviting me to this program.

 

If we look around the globe today,  no area of responsibility is out of reach  for women. It is encouraging to note that they are increasingly assuming the leadership  in legislature, executive and judiciary. They have been successfully handling their responsibilities in economics, politics, management, public diplomacy, public relations, management areas. In their performance, women have shown that they  are fully capable of doing their jobs. In fact, women have proved themselves better in every field not only in the country but also abroad, On the occasion of International Women’s Day, March 8, I would like to honor and appreciate all women, the stakeholders and organizations who are fighting for gender equality and women empowerment.

 

There is yet another aspect to this bright side. It is regretful to note that majority of women across the globe continue to live in pitiable conditions, in misery and discrimination. They struggle  for equal opportunities and basic human rights.

 

The empowerment and autonomy of women and the improvement of their political, social, economic and health status is highly important to lift up their  status and economic independence. Equal partnership and ownership is essential for the achievement of sustainable development goals. Therefore, we should focus to improve the women skill and knowledge according to their abilities.

 

Education is one of the most important means of empowering women for self-confidence. Only education can motivate and make them capable of  equal participation and equitable representation at all levels of the political process, public life, in each society and enabling women to articulate their concerns and needs.

 

We have seen that gender inequality is strongly correlated with poverty. Even today, there is little attention paid to domestic violence and sexual harassment.  Violence against women rarely goes punished. Women are deterred from reporting the discrimination by employers. It must end through strict implementation of laws, regulations and other appropriate measures.

 

When poverty and gender inequality are combined, they lead to an acute failure of  any development programmes. We must work to eliminate all practices that discriminate against women. That will pave the way for gender equality and take women  beyond traditional boundaries.

 

Let us  dedicate ourselves to gender equality and women empowerment. This is an occasion to rededicate ourselves to the fulfillments of commitments we made in the past to advance the status of women at the national and global levels.

 

GP Koirala Foundation was established with the aims of promoting peace, democracy, and development. We, at the Foundation,  believe for sustainable development it has to be balanced, equitable, and  fair at all levels.  The Foundation runs several programmes in the country promoting gender equality and women empowerment.

 

I thank you.

 

 

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