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Social organizations and academies serving State’s interest true national forces
Secretary-1 meets MNCWA and MNWCWA members

Yangon, 3 April — Patron of the Myanmar National Committee for Women’s Affairs Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council General Khin Nyunt met with members of MNCWA and the Myanmar National Working Committee for Women’s Affairs at Zeyathiri Beikman here this evening.

The Secretary-1 said although it is a young organization, the volume of work the MNCWA has implemented is large and its efforts are effective and firm. The State’s policies and work programmes are being implemented in all the sectors of the Union of Myanmar. Social organizations like the Myanmar National Working Committee for Women’s Affairs and academies have been formed in various sectors including health, education and social sectors.

The social organizations and academies serving the State’s interest are the true national forces. Because of the collective efforts of the national forces in launching the national modernization and development drive, the nation is firmly advancing along the correct way. But sadly, due to the instigation of internal and external destructionists, the nation is facing political, economic and social pressures and various kinds of disturbances exceeding it’s capacity of endurance on all fronts.

The government consolidated the strength of the national forces and is launching the national development drive with might and main, despite the disturbances and interferences from sources inside and outside the nation.

It is an undeniable truth that the nation is developing in leaps and bounds without facing any failures thanks to the harmonious efforts the national forces that are making efforts within the framework of State’s policy in serving the interest of the country.

The national economy is developing gradually, and at the same time, the living standard of the people is also improving.

The infrastructures including universities, colleges, world class hospitals, dams, highways and bridges are developing, while the spiritual sector is also developing with full national essence, resulting in the emergence of the national forces striving energetically for national development.

But all must be aware of the conspiracies of the internal and external destructive elements to cause disturbances hindering the development drive, to keep the nation under economic sanctions, and to halt the inflow of foreign investments and arrival of tourists into Myanmar.

They are making slanderous accusations including sexual violence against ethnic women, human rights abuses, use of child soldiers and forced labour. Their conspiracies have become obvious. And if there are no internal and external disturbances under the influences of politics, the nation will achieve more progress.

In this world today, all the countries are keeping their interest in the fore. Thus, self-reliant efforts are required for development of the nation. In the women’s sector, self-reliant efforts are needed to refute the slanderous accusations with firm and correct data and facts. Especially, young women should be organized and educated to cherish their own traditions and culture. The State has acknowledged the accomplishments of the MNWCWA. Its members are required to continue their field tours to remote border areas and villages, and the respective departments should render effective assistance to them.

The project to develop the young women of the border areas must also cover extension of school education, vocational education and health care programmes in addition to cultural, patriotism and law enforcement programmes.
Efforts should be made to upgrade every village into a modern one in trying to implement the five rural development tasks laid down by the State. Members of the MNWCWA will have to join forces with other social organizations including USDA, Red Cross, Auxiliary Fire Brigades and Maternal and Child Welfare Association in the rural areas in developing the women’s sector.

Then, Chairman of the Myanmar National Committee for Women’s Affairs Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Maj-Gen Sein Htwa elaborated that the MNCWA meeting was held two times — first on 23 July 2002 and another on 18 February 2003, while the Myanmar National Working Committee for Women’s Affairs held four meetings. In a bid to make the significant activities of the MNCWA known widely, the ‘Exhibition on Myanmar Women’s Endeavour’ could successfully be organized at the Tatmadaw Convention Centre on U Wisara Road in Yangon from 15 to 24 October 2002.

In accord with the directive to form a Working Committee for Prevention of Trafficking in Persons apart from the MNWCWA under the MNCWA, the WCPTP headed by the Deputy Minister for Home Affairs was formed. The WCPTP is cooperating with the MNWCWA harmoniously in the attempt to prevent human trafficking.

Arrangements for the holding of the Third Myanmar Women’s Conference have been made as a move that will mirror the endeavours of the MNCWA in 2003. Efforts will be made with added momentum greater than now to let both the public and the international community know the endeavours and activities of the MNCWA in line with the one of the directives given to the members of the MNCWA. Accordingly, preparatory measures have been taken for the National Seminar on Trafficking in Women and Children to be held in May 2003. Moreover, arrangements have been made to organize the seminar under the leadership of the MNCWA and the WCPTP in cooperation with UNICEF, UN-IAP and SE (UK).

Although the seminar is rated as national level in general, not only can the experiences be exchanged, but cooperation with the international community can also be made through the participation of experienced people from world nations in the human trafficking combat. Therefore, arrangements have been made to invite local and foreign technicians. Of the foreign resources, plans are under way for the resource persons from USA to participate under their own arrangements.

It is included in the Article 10 (G) and the Article 13 (C) embedded in CEDAW that opportunities must be granted to women to actively participate in sports and physical education. Myanmar women are achieving success in the sports sector. The International Olympic Committee awarded “Women and Sports Trophy 2002” to Myanmar for her cooperation with the working committee for women’s affairs in the women’s sports sector as well as in all-round development activities for women. Thus, the MNWCWA in cooperation with the Ministry of Sports has made arrangements for holding the National Seminar on Women and Sports.

Then, Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing explained matters on prevention of human trafficking. He said the issues of human trafficking are being solved in the international community. In Myanmar, under the leadership of MNCWA, the Work Committee for Prevention Against Human Trafficking (WCPAHT) in cooperation with MNWCWA is making preventive measures for human trafficking. Before the WCPAHT was formed, the Ministry of Home Affairs drafted and implemented the project to take actions against those who illegally work in foreign countries. In accordance with the instructions of the MNCWA Patron, the work committee was formed. The Deputy Minister for Home Affairs acts as the chairman and members are representatives from related ministries, MNWCWA, MMCWA, MRCS, and USDA. The work programme was drawn up and the work committee meetings have been held for five times. According to the decisions of the meetings, the work groups were formed at State/Division, District, Township, ward/village levels.

The WCPAHT chairman received the Tokyo-based ICRC delegation at the hall of Kengtung General Administration Department on 2-8-2002 and explained activities on prevention against human trafficking. The WCPAHT members led by the chairman and the secretary met 4,585 people at Kengtung, Mongphat and Tachilek in Shan State (East) and Taunggyi and Heho in Shan State (South); 1,300 people at Homein Region on the eastern bank of Thanlwin river, Langkho, Monai, Namhsan and Kunhein and Taunggyi townships in Shan State (South); 685 people at the Kayin State Peace and Development Council Office in Hpa-an and Bayme monastery in Kawkyaik Village in Hpa-an Township; 120 people at Affiliated BEMS in Yanlu Village in Mongzin Village-tract in Kengtung Township; 250 people at the monastery in Panton Village, Namlan Village-tract in Mongphat Township together with the ICRC resident representative in Myanmar and party; and 735 people at Thandwe and Taungup townships in Rakhine State. The WCPAHT explained to them matters relating to prevention against human trafficking, the nature of human traffickers, exposing the human traffickers, troubles to be encountered in working in foreign countries illegally, the State’s endeavours in building dams for the people to carry out traditional business undertakings of agriculture and livestock breeding works, and the five rural development tasks.

Moreover, pamphlets in Mon, Kayin and Shan languages are distributed to the national races residing in Mon State, Kayin State, Shan State, Kachin State and Taninthayi Division. Articles on human trafficking problems are distributed in Myanmar, Kayin and Shan languages in the above-mentioned states and divisions.

Educative talks on the human trafficking were held by the MNWCWA at the grass-root levels in Shan State (East), Shan State (North), Mon State, Kayin State and Taninthayi Division. In addition, MNWCWA in cooperation with the UN-IAP conducted short-term courses for staff and members of social organizations on prevention against human trafficking in Mon State, Kayin State, Shan State (East), Magway Division, Bago Division and Yangon Division. Although the work committee was formed only eight months ago, it could expose altogether 252 human traffickers in 137 cases thanks to the educative talks, active participation of related associations and active endeavours of the WCPAHT at different levels. Effective punishments were handed down on the human traffickers. Australia has offered an MoU on cooperation for preventing human trafficking and efforts will be made to carry on that matter. Constant and continued efforts will be made for reducing human trafficking. The regional WCWAs and WCPAHT at different levels will also continue cooperation. So, tasks for preventing human trafficking in Myanmar will be implemented effectively. Matters for establishing model villages as guided by the Secretary-1 are concerned with the Ministry of Home Affairs. These tasks will be carried out consequently. Regarding the women’s affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the WCPAHT chaired by the Deputy Minister for Home Affairs will raise the momentum so far achieved, he explained.

Then, MNWCWA Chairman Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement U Hlaing Win briefed on activities of the MNWCWA. He said MNCWA and MNWCWA held the Exhibition on Myanmar Women’s Endeavours from 15 to 24 November 2002. MNWCWA members led by Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe have made field trips to Shan State (East), Mon State, Kayin State, Taninthayi Division and Shan State (North) to explain facts about the committee. Moreover, MNWCWA members held functions and meetings to explain facts about the committee and matters on prevention of violence against women and rehabilitation tasks.

Moreover, the young women who were attempting to go and work in the other country were convinced with true events in time and sent back home. The Eighth National Immunization Days ceremony and commemorative talks on World AIDS Day were held. Two reports on traditions and customs which could harm the health of women and children and on prevention of violence against women working in the other country were sent through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be mentioned in the UN Secretary-General’s reports.

As regards international relations, the committee met Australian Review and Scoping Mission including Country Programme Manager Ms Cathic Hurst of Aus-AID and Governance Advisor Mr David Bander on 23-7-2002; Advisor on Gender Ms Trinidad Osteria of UNFPA/CST on 27-8-2002; UN Under-Secretary-General Ambassador Mr Joseph Verner Reed and party on 1-11-2002; Section Chief Mr Jorge Sequeira of UNICEF, Yangon on 9-12-2002 morning and Regional Programme Manager Mr Philip Marshall of UN-IAP the same afternoon; Senior Officer of Office to Monitor in Combat Trafficking in Persons of the US State Department Mr Philip Linderman and First Secretary of the Embassy of the USA Mr John Henyes on 21-1-2003; officials from Amnesty International, UK, on 6-2-2003; and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Geneva, on 7-3-2003.

In meeting with Mr Philip Linderman of the State Department of the USA, records on activities of the MNWCWA on trafficking in persons, lectures of Mobile Team, pamphlets and video tapes were presented. In meeting with Amnesty International, UK, activities of the MNWCWA were discussed and in meeting with ICRC, activities of the MNWCWA and arrangements for giving social needs and counselling the woman prisoners in the prisons.

In September 2002, Training Course on Counselling and Training of Service Providers for Trafficking in Women and Children were conducted, in that month, IOC 2002 Women and Sports Trophy presented by International Olympic Committee was received, in October 2002, Activities Implemented by Myanmar National Working Committee for Women’s Affairs during the Period of 1-1-2002 to 30-6 2002, in December 2002, Trafficking in Women and Children: Myanmar Perspective was explained. Handbook on Trafficking in Persons: Myanmar Initiatives has been compiled and arrangements are being made to present it, and in November 2002, “Moe-thet-lay-ko-chway-te-hsaung” feature was shown on TV for the girls to preserve own culture and modes of dress. It was distributed by Snow White Video Production. Myet Khin Thit arts group also aired educative shows —Nway-thaw-yin-khwin, Sangyoug-Hte-ka-yay, Nay-yaung-auk-ka-mee, Ein-met-hline-mya, and Pwint-oo-be-thu-chway.

Altogether 10 delegates were sent to attend seminars in Malaysia, the ROK, Indonesia, Switzerland, Laos, Thailand, Japan and India during the period 1-7-2002 to 31-3-2003. The MNCWA made cash donations of K 898,000 to associations and social organizations and it received donations of K 2,250,000 and a set of wickerwork worth US$ 500 during the period 1-7-2002 to 31-3-2003.

Then, Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe said that the survey team made up of members of MNCWA and MNWCWA made a field tour of Taninthayi Division from 20-1-2003 to 23-1-2003, Chin State on 6-3-2003, and together with members of the working committee to Kale District, and Shan State (North) on 23 and 24 March. The purpose of the field tour is to cordially meet with local nationals, to disseminate methods in carrying out tasks for development of women and in solving possible difficulties, and to give educative talks on human trafficking and explain bad results that young women suffered when they try to work in the neighbouring country.

She added that in the education sector, local nationals paid attention to pursuing education in three states and divisions. But out of them, some had to leave school due to financial problems. In health sector, malaria and diarrhoea are common and so educative talks on prevention of these diseases have been given, and they are now fully aware of HIV/AIDS. Regarding violence against women, there are only a few cases. They gained knowledge on trafficking in persons through educative talks. Local people in villages and wards do not know the existence of laws that give protection to women. With regard to economy, the main businesses of Taninthayi Division are agriculture and fisheries and others are planting rubber, oil palm, cashew and areca palm, marine products processing factories. In Chin State, main business is tea plantation, and in Shan State, plantation of tea and orange and domestic paper industry. If they get small loans, they will be able to start micro-enterprises. In cultural sector, they have a deep reverence for religion they believe, preserve and cherish their traditions and culture, and hold traditional festivals. Regarding conservation of environment, local people use firewood and charcoal as main fuel and so it may cause deforestation. Thus, under the educative talks of the Ministry of Forestry, trees for firewood and perennial trees are being planted. Most of the houses have wells and there is sufficient water. In information sector, efforts are being made to open small libraries in many villages. In Chin State, there are some mobile libraries with the use of pony carts. Electricity is supplied to an extent. Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe also assessed the tasks to be carried out according to the present situations.

Afterwards, Vice-Chief of Military Intelligence Maj-Gen Kyaw Win, Chief Justice U Aung Toe, Attorney-General U Tha Tun, Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Maj-Gen Sein Htwa reported on matters related to entertainment and educative programmes, relationship between cultural traditions and laws, those who illegally went to the neighbouring country for earning money and retured to the motherland, vocational training courses being conducted for national women, and active undertaking of the tasks adopted by the MNCWA.

In his concluding address, the Secretary-1 said the holding of the Third Myanmar Women’s Conference has been approved in principle. Arrangements should be made to organize a seminar on trafficking in women and children as planned.

The MNCWA will have to organize a National Seminar on Women and Sports in cooperation with the Ministry of Sports.

The MNCWA will have to set up a trust fund to provide loans to women of the poor in enabling them to do business. The MNWCWA members will have to continue their field tours to states and divisions.

Concerning the health sector, efforts should be made to pay attention to preventing recurrence of the leprosy and polio in making field tours. The accomplishments of the MNCWA should be informed at home and abroad as the committee’s functions benefit the womenfolk. Preparations should be made to systematically hold the conferences and the seminar.