Secretary-1 meets members of Myanmar National Committee for Women's Affairs and Working Committee
MNCWA urged to get international community know its endeavours ensuring rights for women, children and protecting them from trafficking and abuse
Anti-government organizations even attempting to cause racial dissension
Yangon, 17 July - Patron of Myanmar National Committee for Women's Affairs Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt met with members of MNCWA and Myanmar National Working Committee for Women's Affairs at the meeting hall of Zeya Thiri Beikman in Konmyinttha this morning.
The Secretary-1 delivered an address on the occasion.
He said the MNCWA is making systematic efforts for progress of the women's sector. The committee should strive to get the international community know its endeavours. Only then will Myanmar be able to rely on facts in refuting all the baseless accusations launched against her by some organizations.
The Union of Myanmar has faced internal armed insurgency for many years since it regained independence. The armed civil strife was caused by the colonialists' divide-and-rule policy. The nation lagged behind development as it could not carry out the nation-building tasks due to lack of peace.
Thus, the Tatmadaw government has made endeavours to restore friendship and unity among the national races and to end the armed insurgency. Due to these endeavours, the majority of the armed groups returned to the legal fold. But some groups are taking shelter in the border regions of the other country.
The government has been striving hand in hand with the national race groups which returned to the legal fold for progress of border areas, improving the living standard of the national races and building the nation. The government is extending an olive branch to the armed groups which remain outside the legal fold. But its efforts did not gain success due to foreign instigations.
When the Myanmar Tatmadaw launched operations to ensure peace and stability and rule of law in the border areas, these armed groups fled to the other country. The families of the insurgents are also living as refugees in the other country. These armed groups are launching fabricated accusations against Myanmar with the encouragement of some organizations to get foreign assistance. These organizations are acting as the middlemen to gain benefits, using the insurgent groups. The government has laid down the political, economic and social objectives, and striving on all fronts for Myanmar to get abreast with other nations.
It is striving day and night for national peace and economic development and progress of the social and human resources sectors. However, the organizations opposing the State, the insurgents and the families of the insurgents living at the refugee camps are distributing fabrications to the international community through the intermediaries. First, they made false accusations against Myanmar concerning democracy and human rights. They then gave priority to the forced labour in attacking Myanmar. Before long, they made fabrications concerning the narcotic drugs, and now they are floating slanders to cause racial dissension.
Recently, they made slanderous accusations, saying that the Myanmar soldiers took Sham women to their barracks and raped them. They are making many baseless accusations, and the latest accusation against Myanmar is that the nation did not take effective measure to curb trafficking of women and children.
The baseless accusation said that Myanmar did not make effective efforts to curb trafficking of women and children. In reality, Myanmar has already enacted laws to curb all offences against women and children, including deceiving and stealing of women and children, abduction of women and children and human trafficking. Laws have already been enacted to severely punish the persons who act as middlemen in these cases.
The MNCWA has formed separate branches to protect women against violence and enticements. However, the international community does not know the committee's efforts due to weakness in distributing news and information. Thus, the ministries and humanitarian organizations are required to collectively strive for dissemination of the objective news and information to the world.
The activities of the MNCWA are well-organized and achieving success. There are now countries that want to use the programmes and working systems of the MNCWA as a model. Laws have been enacted and arrangements have been made in Myanmar to effectively protect women and children from abuse and trafficking. Women and children are being protected from abuse and trafficking through social means and traditions and culture.The Myanmar society has made effective efforts to wipe out abuse of women and children in accord with the teachings of Theravada Buddhism and traditions and culture.
Thus, the Myanmar society has never accepted trafficking of women and children. The illegal practice has been controlled through the laws and administrative, social and cultural outlooks. Thus, the departments, the MNCWA and social organizations should harmoniously strive under the leadership of the State to protect the rights of women and curb human trafficking.
But the international community does not know the nation's efforts, instead it is hearing only the false accusations launched against Myanmar by the organizations opposing the State. As the anti-government organizations are even attempting to cause racial dissension, all the national races, bearing in mind the national unity, will have to refute these false accusations with actual news and facts. Thus, it is needed to accelerate the efforts of the MNCWA, which is striving for all-round development of the women's rights the Myanmar women are already enjoying in accord with the historical condition of the race and the nation and the principles of the traditions and customs, and to make arrangement to get the international community know the objective conditions in Myanmar.
Vice-Chairperson of MNWCWA Professor Daw May May Yi reported on works undertaken by MNCWA and working committees at different levels. She said Myanmar signed the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1997. In Myanmar women had had equal rights like men. The committee at different levels are undertaking the measures to enjoy the rights fully. The government formed Myanmar National Committee for Women's Affairs on 3 July 1996. Working Committees were formed from central level to state/division, District/Township and Village Tracts for implementation of the eight tasks, she said.
Secretary of MNWCWA Director-General of Social Welfare Department U Sit Myaing reported on measures undertaken for women affairs. The MNCWA and Working Committee held ceremony to mark Myanmar Women's Day on 3 July and tree planting ceremonies yearly. Moreover, International Women's Day and International Women's Day Against Violence were observed and talks on World AIDS Day were also held.
Members of MNWCWA made field trips to Kayin, Mon and Shan States (North) and gave talks on MNCWA and matters relating to trafficking in women and children. He spoke on cooperation with international organizations regarding women sector and participation in international conference, seminars and workshops.
Head of Working Group for Education Professor Daw Khin Aye Win spoke on provisions of cash and kind to primary schoolchildren, conducting research on causes of incomplete education of women, English language courses, submitting report of CEDAW at the UN in New York in January 2000, compilation of statistics and gender indicators, participation in Training of Service Providers for Trafficking in Women and Children jointly conducted by MNWCWA and UN-IAP, providing stipend and stationery to needy schoolchildren in states and divisions, holding of essay competitions, quiz, opening reading circle for illiteracy campaign, opening of night schools for women, presenting exercise books, pencils and clothes to monastic education schools and creating reading circles for adult education.
Next, Head of Working Group for Health Dr Moe Moe Khaing reported on essential obstetric services, women's health and development, holding of National Seminar on Women's Health in Yangon jointly organized by MNWCWA and the Ministry of Health under the assistance of WHO, participation in Human Rights and Health Sub-committee as a delegate and undertakings on national environment, disease control, preventive measures, environmental health education, sending delegation to South East Asian nations to study women's health and development, measures being undertaken for control of malaria, dengue fever and AIDS, danger of narcotic drugs, reproductive health, birth spacing and breastfeeding, development of nutrition and environment, vaccination for six diseases, national immunization days activities, weighing babies, supplementary nutrition, distribution of iodized salt to the people, participation in anti-leprosy and anti-polio campaign, opening of dispensaries for the poor to provide health care services, opening of sports courses with the aim of gaining health and fitness for the entire people, receipt of sports universality award from International Olympic Committee and Women and Sports Trophy for Asian Continent for Women's Sports Federation and future tasks.
Next, Head of Working Group for Prevention of Violence Against Women and Rehabilitation Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe explained about the undertakings of the group.
She spoke on giving talks on prevention of violence against women and rehabilitation and points on trafficking in women and children at departments, high schools and other associations, conducting survey on marital violence, conducting courses training of services for violence against women for three persons who would solve the issue, opening of 152 counselling centres in the whole country including four in Yangon Division, publication of Global and Myanmar Perspective on Violence against Women in Myanmar and in English and replies to complaints from various parts of the country.
She said the important sector laid down by the Beijing Conference for women's development is VAW. Trafficking is a part of VAW so emphasis is being placed on trafficking. She said MNWCWA is conducting training courses and making efforts for awareness raising to prevent trafficking.
She reported on formation of National Tasks Force comprising departments and representatives of NGOs to prevent trafficking in women and children, discussions at disadvantages of trafficking at National Seminar on Women's Health in 2001, publication of Laws Pertaining to Trafficking in Women and Children compiled by legal scholar, producing TV show on trafficking, publishing booklets and educative measures, discussions on VAW and Trafficking with officials from Aus-AID, meeting with Mr Pinheiro of UN Human Rights Commission, who submitted special report on Myanmar, explanation of trafficking being undertaken in Myanmar at the National Workshop on the Case of Trafficking in Women and Children in Vientiane in Laos, attending Briefing on the Draft Project Design for the South-East Asia Regional Cooperation to Prevent People Trafficking Project in Bangkok in March 2002, formation of mobile team comprising representatives from UN-IAP and departments, conducting training of trainers courses and training of service providers for trafficking in women and children in states and divisions by intersectoral mobile team.
She said in May eight-member mobile team went to Cambodia to exchange experiences in control of human trafficking. State and Division Women's Affairs Working Committees scrutinized the complaints. She reported on comforting the women at counseling centers, giving talks on laws protecting women, conducting survey on marital violence, educative talks on trafficking and providing help to women who returned to the country and sending information to the central.
Then, Daw Sein Sein, Head of Working Group for Economic Affairs of MNWCWA reported on techniques being conducted for receiving surplus income of the family. In addition, the basic accountancy courses, the computer-aided accountancy courses, the basic office management courses, the tailoring courses and the basic driving courses were opened. The work group performed disbursing of loans to the mat makers and the vendors and creating of jobs for those who passed the trainings conducted by the working group with companies, department stores, factories, banks, etc. Moreover, the economic working groups in States and Divisions also conducted embroidery, preparing snacks, and tailoring courses as well as the agricultural courses for the women and sought jobs for them.
Next, Head of Working Group for Culture Daw Thein Thein Nyunt reported that cultural talks were held. Occasionally, the cultural talks were broadcast in programmes of Radio Myanmar and TV Myanmar. The cultural working group could perform entertainment programmes two times at National Theatre in 2000 and 2001 for development of Myanma traditional culture. The question entitled "Assessment on the attitude of Myanmar Women in Myanma Culture", designating it as a future task to conduct field research at schools. Moreover, the arrangement was made to hold the painting contest for schoolgirls in 2002. The cultural working groups in States and Divisions are undertaking the opening of culture courses, giving of the talks on culture, holding of the fashion shows and contest and providing assistance to those who would participate in the Myanmar Traditional Performing Arts Competitions. The officials of the working groups attended the traditional festivals of national races and donated cash and kind. In addition, the wut recitation ceremonies have been held and the health care services as well as donation matters have been held at the homes for the aged.
Head of Working Group for Girls and Adults Daw Khin Myo Myint reported talks were held with the aims of enabling girls and adults to cherish and safeguard the Myanma culture and to understand health knowledge at puberty age and children themselves to know the rights of child prescribed in at the Child Law. The TV Myanma broadcast the role- play programme, namely "Answer of Women's Problem" with a view to enjoying the role of Counseling Centers. Likewise, the domestic training courses and the tailoring courses were opened. Hailing the school enrolment week for school going-age children, the group donated K 1.7 million as stipends to the Ministry of Education. Regarding rural development tasks, the group donated K 1,964,500 to the Ministry for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs for sinking tube wells in rural areas.
Especially, the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women was translated from English to Myanmar for wider understanding of it. She also elaborated on compiling of the laws and TV lectures on women's affairs. The working groups in States and Divisions rendered assistance to turn out outstanding athletes representing the State. the domestic training courses, the aerobic training courses, the physical culture contests and the women's soccer tournaments were held. Health education talks including HIV/AIDS control were also held. Talks were also held to prevent young women and adults from working in the other country. In Sagaing Division, the Girl and Adult Development branch was opened.
Then, Leader of Women and Environmental Conservation Group of MNWCWA Daw Yin Yin Lay in her explanation on activities of WECG said the WECG has drawn up plans and is implementing them to protect the environment with the aim of creating the "green and clean environment" in Myanmar. In order to spread the environmental education among the public, tasks such as the producing of articles, the publishing of journals and the holding of talks were done. Moreover, campaigns of environmental conservation and activities to keep the surrounding areas clean and to plant trees were also conducted. Similarly, committees from states and divisions are also engaged in educational talks to protect the environment; carrying out the sanitation works in schools, factories, hospitals, drains and lakes; planting trees on both sides of road; and growing shady trees and flower plants in schools, pagodas and hospitals compounds. Cooperation is being given to such activities as holding of talks on fuel wood substitution, distribution of pamphlets, supply of clean water, construction of fly-proof latrines and fly control.
Next, Daw Mya Mya, Leader of Women and Information Group of MNWCWA, explained the activities carried out by her group. She said as for her group, tasks to televise the activities of women's affairs, report in newspapers, broadcast interviews, publish educational articles and annual magazines, air songs on Myanmar women's affairs as well as educational TV and radio plays were undertaken.
Book Fair was exhibited at the ceremony marking Myanmar Women's Day. And MNCWA calendars are published yearly. In order to make the world know the activities for development of Myanmar women, news data such as Status of Myanmar Women (2001, July), A National Machinery for the Advancement of Women in Myanmar (2001, August), and Myanmar Women and Sports (2001, October) have been launched on the Internet. More news data, Myanmar Women's Day 2002 and Goodwill Visit to China by a Delegation from MNCWA 2002, are under arrangement to put on the Internet. UN Inter-agency Project News-Letter described the eradication of human trafficking campaign in Myanmar as "On the Move Against Trafficking a Model from Myanmar", which appeared in Step by Step, First Quarter 2002, Issue 6. Reports on "Trafficking in Women and Children" and pamphlets by Myanmar Police Force and MNWCWA were sent to Myanmar Permanent Representative's Office in New York, she said. Women and Information Groups in states and divisions are making efforts in opening mobile libraries, conducting multiplier courses for librarians, distributing pamphlets, holding photo competitions and talks on information techniques to help solve difficulties of women, holding talks on social communication, educating information works, doing practical news-writing techniques, broadcasting video plays emphasizing on dressing in womanly mode, and publishing magazines and journals state- and division-wise.
Next, MNWCWA's international relations group leader Professor Daw Yi Yi Myint reported the work progresses of the group. It has carried out works concerning the visits of representatives of international organizations, sending of delegations to foreign meetings, training courses and workshops, providing remarks to foreign organizations, acting as focal point of ASEAN women's affairs and sending delegates to local human rights workshops and seminars held by Myanmar Human Rights Committee and international seminars.
Regarding the visits of foreigners and representatives from international organizations, representatives from WFWP (Women Federation for World Peace), managing Director Ms Yoshiko Misumi and party from Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women, Bengal Initiative Chairman Mr Amiya Gooptu and party from India, the UNICEF resident representative and the UN-IAP project coordinator visited Myanmar and had discussions. In addition, the MNWCWA's international relations group had discussed matters on trafficking in women and children with Professor Paulo Sergio Pinheiro and party who submitted special report on human rights to the Human Rights Commission. It also had discussed matters on trafficking in women and children with team leader Dr Mike Dalton and party of Aus-AID. Likewise, it also had discussions with the high level team from ILO (International Labour Organization).
The MNWCWA's international relations group has been sending delegates and representatives to foreign meetings, training courses, workshops and seminars. To be exact, they were: the National Workshop on Illegal Labours Movements: the case of trafficking in women and children held in Lao PDR; the Training Course on Mainstreaming Gender and Development (GAD) Perspectives in Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) held in the Philippines; the 22nd meeting on Convention on elimination of all-forms of discrimination against women held in New York; the Regional Workshop on Statistics on Gender Issues held in Bangkok; the meeting on Women 2000 gender Equality Development and peace for 21st century of 23rd UN Special Conference held in New York; the Regional Workshop on recommended set of strategies to address the lack of access by women to opportunities for employment and skill enhancement held in Brunei; the Regional Secretarial for gender science and technology for Southeast Asia and Pacific held in Indonesia; the Symposium on role of women in service sector held in Fiji; the fifth Meeting of senior officials of national machineries for the advancement of women in East and Southeast Asian countries held in Tokyo; the Training Course on principles and methods of feminist participatory action research held in Bangkok; and the 19th meeting of ASEAN Sub-Committee on Women held in Indonesia.
In addition, the delegates and representatives from the MNWCWA attended the Training Course on media strategies for community development and social change held in Israel; the Workshop on women's leadership development held in Israel; the Asian Women Conference on a culture of peace held in Vietnam; the Training course on Mainstreaming Gender and Development (GAD) in technical vocational education and training (TVET) held in the Philippines; the Regional Forum on Women, Gender and Cooperatives in Asia : Meeting Challenges Exploring Opportunities held in Bangkok; the Regional Consultation to combat trafficking in women and children in Southeast Asia and Yunnan of China held in Bangkok; the ASEAN regional mechanism on human rights held in Indonesia; the Training Course on enhancing women's economic participation through scaling-up of micro enterprises to small-scale enterprises held in Malaysia; the 20th Meeting of ASEAN Sub-committee on women held in Lao PDR; the Training Workshop on gender, science and technology held in the Philippines; the Workshop on ASEAN sharing of best practices and expanding new skills training for disadvantaged women held in Chiangmai; the ASEAN-UNDP ASP-6 Regional Workshop on harmonization of the social impact assessment mechanisms in member countries through comparative analysis of existing mechanisms and practices held in Malaysia; the Briefing on the draft project design for the Asia regional cooperation to prevent people trafficking project held in Bangkok; the Asia Regional Workshop on strengthening partnerships for elimination gender-based violence held in Malaysia; and the 2nd Workshop on ASEAN regional mechanism on human rights held in the Philippines.
Altogether 47 representatives and delegates were sent on various study tours such as the study tour on women's health and development in Indonesia; the goodwill visit to China at the invitation of All-China Women Federation; and the study tour of experience sharing mission to Cambodia.
As a ASEAN focal point, it compiled a country report and sent to ASEAN headquarters for the second regional report on advancement of women in ASEAN. Twenty members of MNWCWA also attended the workshops on human rights and seminars on international children rights held by the Myanmar Human Rights Committee.
Next, Minister for Immigration and Population Maj-Gen Sein Htwa, Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung, Chief Justice U Aung Toe and Attorney-General U Tha Tun explained matters on those who went to other country illegally and returned; actions taken against trans-national crimes; the promulgation of effective laws in Myanmar against human traffickers and accomplices; and the future tasks of the MNCWA.
Next, MNCWA Patron State Peace and Development Council Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt gave concluding remarks. He said that the MNCWA has been taking systematic measures for development of women sector, protecting women from violence and prevention of trafficking in women. It is important to make known these measures to the international community in parallel with the time. Necessary work committees and groups are to be formed for ensuring the effective and successful realization of works and ministries concerned are to render necessary assistance, he said. He also called for collective efforts for enabling the MNCWA to successfully carry out its tasks development of women sector; protecting of women from violence and prevention of trafficking in women. He also urged all to counter fabrications and false accusations made with the intention of tarnishing the dignity and prestige of Myanmar and her people.
The meeting then came to an end.