Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is this year's winner of the Gentleman Award for his role in helping to promote gender equality.

The award ceremony was held yesterday by the Gender and Development Research Institute, a private non-profit organisation active in policy research and policy advocacy on issues that affect Thai women's lives and welfare.

The award marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of International Women's Day, which falls on Monday.

Thanpuying Sumalee Chatikavanij, adviser to the institute, praised the prime minister for his active role in supporting Thai women to take part in decision making in every dimension of Thai society over past years.

She said Mr Abhisit had played a key role in pushing for government policies that helped protect the rights of women.

Mr Abhisit was unable to receive the award in person but said in a recorded video that he thanked the institute for the honour bestowed on him. He said the government would continue to work so women had the same rights as men.

The institute also awarded 10 women for their outstanding roles in helping promote gender equality and the rights of women in Thai society.

The awardees were selected from various fields such as business, agriculture, media and the environment.

Nattaya Chetchotiros, Bangkok Post assistant news editor and former president of the Thai Journalists Association, was recognised for her outstanding achievements in the mass media.

The institute praised Ms Nattaya for being the force behind projects such as the production of handbooks for journalists to report news involving sexual issues and pocket books on the lives of southern women affected by unrest. "I think being a journalist is a big task but keeping journalism's code of ethics is bigger," she said.