Women's right to equal opportunities and a dignified life must be respected, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Monday on the eve of International Women's Day."On the occasion of International Women’s Day, I extend warm greetings and good wishes to the women of India and thank them for their contributions over the years in the building of our nation," the president said in a statement."Women have always been given the highest level of respect in our country. Their protection and safety is a sacred duty of society as a whole. We must respect the right of women to equal opportunities and a dignified life," he added. Mukherjee said it was a collective responsibility of all the Indians to "create an ecosystem that ensures the safety, security and dignity of women in society". "On International Women's Day, let us redouble our efforts for achieving gender equity and empowerment of women. Let us strive to enable our women realize their full potential and participate meaningfully in all aspects of our country's development," the president said.International Women's Day is celebrated every year on March 8.