South Asian Women Development Forum (SAWDF) in partnership with the Delegation of the European Union to Nepal organized a talk program on the theme “Be Bold for Change” with outstanding women achievers on 20th March 2017. In the inaugural session of the program, H.E Rensje Teerink, Ambassador of E.U. stated that women's empowerment must be mainstreamed in the government’s policies and programs. Mr. Suraj Vaidya, President of SAARC CCI, said that South Asia is grappling with various problems, like poverty, conflict, and gender discrimination, among others but the landscape of women empowerment is gradually changing. Also speaking at the inaugural session, Ms. Pramila Acharya Rijal, President of SAWDF stated that women are economically backward in South Asia. She also urged the apex body of the national federation and chambers in SAARC, the SAARC CCI, to ensure the representation of women entrepreneurs, and organizations in SAARC high-level committees so that they can lobby with the governments and private sector for the empowerment of women.
The speakers for the talk program were Ms. Taslima Nasrin, Social Activist and Author, Mrs. Rita Singh, Chief Managing Director, MESCO Steel Limited, New Delhi, Ms. Junhua Wu, General Manager, Shenzhen Justtide Tech Co. Ltd, People’s Republic of China and Ms. Ani Choying Dolma, Founder, Nuns’ Welfare Foundation, Nepal.
