Bhopal, Mar 8: Multi Purpose Youth Friendly Centre (Jigyasa) of FPA India Regional Technical Centre, Bhopal observed International Women's Day (IWD in collaboration with RD Memorial college, Bhadbhada Road on 8th March 2008". This year's theme of International Women's day is -''Investing in Women and Girls". On this occasion, 200 students from different colleges participated in the programme. The programme was inaugurated by Dr Kansotia, CHMO, Bhopal District Who emphasized that at least one out of every three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime - with the abuser usually someone known to her. Violence against women and girls is a universal problem of pandemic proportions. Perhaps the most pervasive human rights violation that we know today, it devastates lives, fractures communities, and stalls development.

A youth Volunteer Dharmendra from Jigyasa welcomed the guests & highlighted the objectives of the day. On the occasion Ms Kiran Awasthi, Co chair person RTC FPA India stressed that a critical aspect of promoting gender equality lies on youth who should focus on identifying and redressing power imbalances and create awareness on giving women more autonomy to manage their own lives. Women's empowerment is vital to sustainable development and the realization of human rights for all. Dr Rashmi Dwivedi from Gandhi Medical College and Dr Raka Arya from National Law Academy expressed their views.

The speakers during the programme focused that a multi-sectoral response is required including eliciting behavior change with young men; mobilizing communities; and promoting appropriate State/institutional involvement. They also highlighted that higher levels of women's education are strongly associated with both lower infant mortality and lower fertility, as well as with higher levels of education and economic opportunity for their children. Hemant Chouhan, Director RD Memorial College was also present on the occasion.

Different Students from VNS college, Swami Vivekananda college, National Law College, RD Memorial College actively participated in this programme. A panel discussion was also organized where 9 youth expressed their views on the theme of the day. They all expressed that More women than men live in poverty. Economic disparities persist partly because much of the unpaid work within families and communities falls on the shoulders of women and because they face discrimination in the economic sphere.

Failure to provide information, services and conditions to help women protect their reproduction health therefore constitutes gender-based discrimination and a violation of women's rights to health and life. Addressing women's issues also requires recognizing that women are a diverse group, in the roles they play as well as in characteristics such as age, social status, urban or rural orientation and educational attainment. Although women may have many interests in common, the fabric of their lives and the choices available to them may vary widely. The programme was conducted by Ms Seema Jain, Counselor, MPYFC. The vote of thanks was proposed by SK Dubey from RTC FPA India.