A huge crowd turned out in Revolution Square in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Saturday (7 February) to celebrate the culmination of a year's work revolving around International Women's Year.

The Ethiopian leader Brigadier-General Teferi Bante, addressed the crowd and told them that women in all quarters of Ethiopian society must take their place in "the Ethiopian revolutionary march towards socialism".

He said that if women were to take their rightful place as equals to men then they would have to fight the traditional prejudices which "are a legacy from the former feudal government."
Brigadier-General Bante said that educated women must help their sisters to gain as awareness of their rights and responsibilities towards society.

He praised the young women involved in the National Work Campaign whom, he said, worked as hard as the men in the remote parts of the country.

Ethiopian women's organisations put on special displays and exhibitions in the square.

SYNOPSIS: Special celebrations were held in Revolution Square in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Saturday to mark the culmination of a year's work revolving around International Women's Year.

Huge crowds turned out to take part in the celebrations. Bands from all over the country played both traditional and western music as the crowds danced.

The past year has seen many advances in the status of women in Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian leader, Brigadier-General Teferi Bante, arrived to officially begin the celebrations. He told the huge crowd that women in Ethiopia must take their place in what he termed "the revolutionary march towards socialism". The Brigadier-General said that under the former government Ethiopian women were victims not only of harsh exploitation but also discrimination based on sex.

This woman showed that many modern Ethiopian women are not accepting their traditional role in society.

Brigadier-General Bante congratulated the women's movements, especially those who are attempting to educate women in the more remote areas of the country.

He said that the future for Ethiopian women...and Ethiopia itself....lay with the education of the children. He said they must be taught that they are the equal to all people, no matter what their race, colour or sex.