Australian Consulate General celebrates Int'l Women's Day

HIGH TEA - Australian Consulate General in Bali celebrates International Women'a Day on March 15, 2019. (kanalbali/KR12)

DENPASAR, kanalbali.com - The Australian Consulate-General celebrated International Women's Day with a high tea that included local and Australian communities in Bali, Friday, March 15. The event showcased the Australian consulatr general's support in promoting women's social, economic, cultural, and political success, particularly in Bali and West Nusa Tenggara.

The event was opened with a song performed by a choir group of 24 young women from Bali WISE program of ROLE Foundation's women education program, followed by remarks from the Australian Consul General in Bali, Helena Studdert.

"International Women's Day is a chance to motivate our friends, famillies, collagues, amd communities to think, act, and be gender inclusive," Studdert emphasized.

SMILE! - All participants take photo sessions during the celebration of International Women's Day at the residence of Australian Consul General di Denpasar, March 15, 2019. (kanalbali/KR12)

Studdert added that the Australian government is committed to gender equality and women's empowerment as a top priority for development assistance and foreign policy. Australia's gender advocacy focuses on enhancing women's voice in decision making, promoting women's economic empowermentvand ending violence against women.

The event hosted a keynote speaker Ni Komang Sariadi, a Balinese woman who have been successfully empowering Balinese women. Sariadi is a director of Sari Hati Foundation, and founder of Pusat Kegiatan Perempuan (PKP) women's center in Ubud. Sari shared her work experience and vision to empower women and bring gender equality to Balinese women and girls.

"To be here, to be part of this event is something beautiful that I would be grateful for it," Sari said. (kanalbali/KR12)