A hopeful International Women’s Day

THE theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is the empowerment of rural women and the ending of hunger and poverty.

In Asia, women occupy an increasingly vulnerable position, particularly among refugee communities.

Whether young or old, and whether in border refugee camps or in urban apartment blocks, women face a common struggle to provide for their families in areas where they are denied legal and human rights.

Leaving their countries of origin to escape political, sexual or economic exploitation, many arrive in Thailand or other countries in the region in the hope of finding a safer environment in which to live and work.

To mark this year’s commemoration of International Women’s Day, the Jesuit Refugee Service Asia Pacific  in Bangkok has gathered testimonials from women in the region, in which they explain their hopes for their families and their futures.

Report from ucanews.com