HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha of Thailand Agrees to be UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador and Says NO to Violence against WomenDate: 5 September 2008
Bangkok Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol of Thailand signed on to UNIFEMs Say NO to Violence against Women campaign at an official ceremony on 5 September to mark her designation as UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador in Thailand.
Daughter of Thailands Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, Princess Bajrakitiyabha completed her Ph.D. in law from Cornell University, and currently works as Assistant Public Prosecutor, Ministry of Justice, in a province outside Bangkok.
In recognition of her work in advancing womens rights in Thailand, including her initiative Kamlangjai (Inspire) to empower women inmates, pregnant women inmates and their babies in correctional facilities, UNIFEM invited Princess Bajrakitiyabha to become UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador, an invitation she graciously accepted.
At the ceremony attended by ministers, senior government officials, dignitaries and civil society representatives HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha distributed Say NO cards to those in attendance, and invited them to add their names to the campaign and to pledge to motivate their peers and others to sign on to the campaign as well.
HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha said: I am confident that, with our concerted efforts, the UNIFEM campaign to Say NO to Violence against Women will certainly draw a huge number of signatures from the public showing the strength of Thailands one clear voice towards ending violence against women.
UNIFEM Executive Director Inés Alberdi told the gathering via a video message from New York: I am honoured that Your Royal Highness has agreed to become UNIFEMs Goodwill Ambassador in Thailand and to support our efforts to advance womens empowerment. In particular, I would like to thank you for your willingness to add your name to UNIFEMs Say NO to Violence against Women campaign today and to make ending violence against women a focus of your work with us.
Ms. Jean DCunha, UNIFEM Regional Programme Director for East and South-East Asia, added: We see today as a renewal of a long-term commitment and co-ordinated efforts to ending violence against women. ... UNIFEM strongly believes that the ingenuity, commitment and charisma of Your Royal Highness as the UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador for the Say NO to Violence against Women campaign and programme in Thailand will serve as an exemplary role model for Thai people, particularly the younger generation.
A commitment and serious efforts to end violence against women by government agencies and civil society organizations in Thailand have set a precedent for the region. The Thai Constitution has provisions to address violence against women, including domestic violence, and the Protection of Victims of Domestic Violence Act was promulgated in 2007.
To join an ever-growing movement of people around the world in saying NO to violence against women, please visit
www.novaw.in.th or
www.saynotoviolence.org.
For more information, please contact Ms. Supapohn Kanwerayotin, supapohn.kanwerayotin[at]unifem.org, +662 288-2093.
http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=724#
