Caritas Celebrates International Women Right Days

Caritas Kampong Cham and Kampong Thom have celebrated the 98th years of international women right day( 08 March) on the theme of “Providing opportunity and support women to be leaders” and of “ Women in social development” respectively. The celebrations were organized in order to remind of the hardship of women for their struggling freedom and equal rights as men and also to encourage more women in social activities and leadership.

Chea Vanny, program manager from Caritas Kampong Thom said every year Caritas Cambodia corporate with the local authority and its target people celebrate the international women rights day. She said Caritas Kampong Thom wish to see its 32 target villages, especially women getting to know their basic rights and to avoid any form of violation.

Celebration of international women right day in kampong Thom

As of report from Caritas Kampong Thom, a total of 305 people, of which 228 women have participated in the celebration on the 4 of March, 2008. The attendees are Buddhist monks, deputy district governor, head of provincial women department, other NGOs, commune authority, teachers, students and villagers. While Caritas Kampong Cham , among 289 participants , 189 people is accounted for women. Based on Caritas Kampong Cham, some women do not fully practice their rights.

Participants including district authority, monks, students, villagers during international women right day in Kampong Cham on 4 March, 2008.

International Women's Day (8 March) is an occasion marked by women's groups around the world. This date is also commemorated at the United Nations and is designated in many countries as a national holiday. When women on all continents, often divided by national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their Day, they can look back to a tradition that represents at least nine decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development.

Cambodia has enjoyed the women right day for years, March, 08 is also listed in public holiday in Cambodia. Each year, some ministry especially the ministry of women and veteran’s affairs, other government institutions, non-governmental organization or some other private sector celebrates the women right day for their female staffs and it is for a symbol of recognition the women rights in Cambodia society. It is such an encouragement for women.

International Women's Day is the story of ordinary women as makers of history; it is rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women to participate in society on an equal footing with men. In ancient Greece, Lysistrata initiated a sexual strike against men in order to end war; during the French Revolution, Parisian women calling for "liberty, equality, fraternity" marched on Versailles to demand women's suffrage.