By Jeetan Subba & Arjun Pradhan, Jhapa
Beldangi-I, March 8: Hundreds of exiled women marched in a rally today to mark the 100th International Women Day today morning.
The rally displayed several slogans related to women issues including ‘women right is human right’ before the mass converted into a gathering in the camp premises.
Bhutan Media Society (BMS) and Bhutanese Refugee Women Forum (BRWF) jointly organized a special program today to mark this day.
The program marked stage programs, felicitation of vulnerable and single women, and roundtable media interaction on ‘situation of women and our roles’.
Funded by Global Human Rights Defense (GHRD) through Bhutanese Community in the Netherlands, BMS and BRWF honored the most vulnerable women of Beldangi-I camp, Chandra Maya Biswa and Dil Maya Rai amidst the function organized at BRWF office.
Upon leaving the stage after receiving the felicitation, both Biswa and Rai heartily thanked GHRD and resettled Bhutanese in the Netherlands for the gift package.
” I am very happy to get this package, they have not forgotten us,” Biswa told Bhutan News Service. “I have no idea who has given me this, but I am really happy,” Rai, who was filled with immense joy that covered her gloomy face, commented.
Speaking at the program, Ganga Sen of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that men can play crucial roles to safeguard women rights.
Harka Rai, the camp supervisor of Refugee Coordination Unit under the Ministry of Home Affairs, appreciated the initiatives of BMS and BRWF in holding such programs. “We must always motivate women in camps so that they start feeling self dependence.”
Pawan Acharya of the UNHCR applauded the support from GHRD and resettled Bhutanese in supporting women and people in need in the camps.
“UNHCR has been working to uplift women in camps,” he said, “It is note-worthy that such organizations are together with us in camps, although they are far from the camps.”
BRWF volunteer Rupa Subba and former camp secretary of Sanischare camp, Menuka Nepal, emphasized on need of launching skill development programs for children and frustrated youths in camps.
Through BMS, I would like to request GHRD and resettled Bhutanese to work out some short-term skills development programs for our children, said Rupa. “Resettled Bhutanese are always within our hearts and we look for their supports to uplift our situations.”
Representatives of Lutheran World Federation, Children Forum, Youth Friendly Circle and Camp Management Committee among others expressed their solidarity in the program.
Likewise, issuing a circular today All Bhutanese Refugee Women Association has asked women in camps and those resettled to come to a single platform for repatriation of the exiled Bhutanese.
