INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 8 MARCH HRH PRINCESS KATHERINE

BELGRADE, 8 March 2005 - On the occasion of 8 March, International Woman’s Day I warmly congratulate all the women in our country. This is an opportunity to ask ourselves: what is the role of a woman today?

The role of a woman in our society is not reflected only in her participation in the regular development of the family, with all the respect for tradition and customs regardless of religion and ethnic origin, but is of immeasurable importance for the development of the whole society.

From the very beginning of the conception of a child, until its birth and later upbringing, the mother plays a very important role, because she is a nursery of values and the foundation for the future person with all his true values.

Today a woman is present everywhere: in leading positions, in factories, hospitals, even in the Army and Police, but never neglecting her basic duty – the duty of a mother and wife. Today women in our country are the main carriers of changes; the burden of democratic changes is on their backs, the burden of the development of society and integration of our country to Euro–Atlantic flows. Following all the contemporary achievements and the development of technology, today’s woman is educated, informed, modern and very engaged.

Therefore, my message, a message sent from a woman who is a mother is that we should never forget the tradition of our mothers, who have always directed us to keep the family united and to be the pride of our ancestors and to be an example for our children.

We must never forget that we do not work only for the present, since the way we raise our children is the way future generations will be brought up.

Happy Women's Day

HRH Crown Princess Katherine