Australian High Commission celebrates International Women’s Day 2013
The Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, HE Mr Miles Kupa, and his wife Zuly Chudori, together with the women of the High Commission, hosted a luncheon at his Residence on 7 March, the eve of International Women’s Day, for a cross-section of women leaders in Malaysia from across various sectors, including business, government, politics, the arts, education and civil society.
The lively luncheon provided an opportunity to celebrate female achievement and empowerment, and to identify where women’s rights continue to lag and improvements need to be made. Tables were decorated in the colours of International Women’s Day – green, white and violet.
Ms Anthea Mulakala, The Asia Foundation’s Country Representative in Malaysia, was a guest speaker at the luncheon, and provided insights on strategies for furthering the status of women and girls across the region.
The Australian Government supports the work of the Asia Foundation to promote women’s empowerment and gender equality in Asia. The Australian Agency for International Development and the Asia Foundation expanded their existing strategic partnership in 2011 through a new three-year $19.5 million agreement, which includes work on a range of programs to support women and girls in the region.
More broadly, of the Australian Government’s $5 billion annual development assistance program, a large proportion supports programs benefiting women and girls in many parts of the world, including in Afghanistan, the Pacific, Asia and Africa.
The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day, “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women”, invites us to reflect on what remains a persistent problem for women and girls around the world.
In conjunction with International Women’s Day 2013, Senator the Hon Bob Carr, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, said women rightly want the full realisation of their human rights.
“There is no more important building block for the empowerment of women and girls than the elimination of violence. So this International Women’s Day, Australia adds its voice to the global call for an end to violence against women and girls – in all its forms and whether it occurs: in the home, in the workplace, in schools and universities, in situations of conflict,” he said in his video message.
HE Ms Penny Williams, Australia’s Global Ambassador for Women and Girls, has also recorded a video message.
The Australian High Commission invites you to view the messages via the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade YouTube channel.
Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, H.E. Mr Miles Kupa (right) and his wife Ms Zuly Chudori (centre) together with Bersih Chairperson, Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan at a luncheon to celebrate International Women’s Day on 7 March 2013.
Guest speaker from The Asia Foundation Country Representative in Malaysia, Ms Anthea Mulakala addresses the guests.
Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, H.E. Mr Miles Kupa (third from right) and Deputy High Commissioner, Mrs Jane Duke (right) together with (from left to right) Goldis Berhad Chairman, Ms Tan Lei Cheng; Ms Cheryl Low; Shalini Ganendra Fine Art Director, Datin Shalini Ganendra; YTL Corporation Berhad Executive Director, Dato’ Yeoh Soo Min and Enfiniti Productions Sdn Bhd Producer, Datin Sri Tiara Jacquelina.
Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, H.E. Mr Miles Kupa (right) talks over lunch with writer and social activist, Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir.
Australian Deputy High Commissioner, Mrs Jane Duke delivers her remarks.