Lima, Peru — UPF-Peru celebrated International Women’s Day with a forum in the Peruvian Congress on March 7, attended by approximately 120 persons.
The theme of the forum, which was organized jointly with the Women’s Federation for World Peace Peru, was taken from the United Nations Women’s Beijing+20 campaign: "Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture It!" The event began with the reading of a message from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Congressman Dr. Yonhy Lescano co-sponsored the forum. His wife, Dr. Patricia Contador de Lescano, a lawyer and member of the UPF Peace Council of Peru, was one of the speakers.
Other distinguished speakers were: Lic. Pilar Silveyra Carrillo, president of the nongovernmental organization Peruvian Woman; Dr. Sara Luz Canales Aguilar, president of the Peruvian University for Global Integration; and Mrs. Rosa Castillo Reyes, national coordinator of Mothers Clubs with approximately 150,000 members.
All the women spoke with deep sincerity about the importance of this day and their gratitude for it. They also emphasized how much needed to be done in Peru to overcome the still existing “machismo” (male dominance) in society, while at the same time recounting what they themselves had done to reach the positions that they now occupy.
Five new Ambassadors for Peace were appointed, including leading businesswomen, local government officials and a well-respected police general. The meeting concluded with entertainment from Peruvian folk dancers.
Meanwhile, in Trujillo, Peru’s second most populous city, International Women’s Day was observed on March 6 with a celebration in the La Esperanza (“Hope”) district that was organized in cooperation with several other organizations.
The dignitaries who attended included Deputy Mayor Martin Namay Valderrama; Lic. Luisa Centurion from the Ministry of Women; and representatives of the National Police of Peru.