The three-day South Asian Women’s Conference 2025 was held from from May 8-10, 2025 at Namgay Heritage Hotel, Thimphu, under the theme “๐พ๐๐๐๐’๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐: ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.”
The event was graced by ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฃ๐ข ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐จ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐ฎ๐๐ค,
๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฒ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง, who inaugurated the conference. In her inspiring address, Her Majesty urged participants to:
“๐ณ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐; ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐; ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ โ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐.”
The conference opened with a warm welcome address by Ms. Kesang Chuki Dorjee, Member of the National Council of Bhutan (Upper House), setting an inspiring tone for the event. Brief remarks were delivered by co-organizers Veena Sikri, Suman Raj Timsina, Yankila Sherpa, and ICIMOD DDG Isabell Koziell, highlighting the goals and significance of the gathering. Ms. Cecile Fruman, Director of Regional Integration and Engagement in the South Asia Region at the World Bank, further enriched the discussions with their insights. The keynote address was delivered by Ms. Bandana Rana, Member and former Vice Chairperson of CEDAW, who brought a glob al perspective on advancing gender equality and eliminating discrimination against women.
Over 100 participants, including dignitaries, policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and grassroots women leaders from across South Asia, gathered to collaborate on key issues shaping the future of rural women’s empowerment. Ms. Rami N Desai, Distinguished Fellow, India Foundation chaired the opening session on โThe viability of women in The Arc of Rural Tourismโ. She also gave the concluding remarks in the conference focusing on the role of womenโs empowerment in regional stability.
As part of the conference, Her Majesty formally inaugurated a vibrant exhibition showcasing the diverse contributions of women’s groups and organizations from across the region. The exhibition featured stalls from Chaitanya (India), Integrated Mountain Initiative (Sikkim, India), Folk Heritage Museum (Bhutan), Tarayana Rural Crafts (Bhutan), Chukha Ecotourism Groups (Bhutan), International Development Institute (Nepal), and Federation of Women Entrepreneursโ Associations of Nepal (FWEAN), Sabah, Bhutan. Each exhibit highlighted unique local innovations, artisanal products, and community-based initiatives that promote rural livelihoods, cultural preservation, and women’s economic empowerment across South Asia.
Organized by South Asian Womenโs Network (SWAN), T-HELP, International Development Institute (IDI), Tarayana Foundation and India Foundation, this conference is shaping actionable, cross-border strategies for sustainable development.
