Statement of Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt. Gen. Khin
Nyunt delivered at the ceremony of Myanmar Women's Day 2001 at the International Business Centre on
3 July 2001

The Secretary-1 said observance of the Myanmar Women's Day in honouring the entire Myanmar women, who are dedicated , sincere, noble and qualified with full national essence, reflects the national determination to harmoniously strive for progress of the women's role.

As the Myanmar society already has the favourable foundations for progress of the women's sector, they while enjoying equal status with men, and depending on each other, have served the national affairs throughout the nation's history till now.

The Myanmar women have been enjoying their respectful place and rights because of the teachings of the Theravada rBuddhism that are steering the human society towards equality and harmony.

Throughout the successive periods the Myanmar women have been enjoying the equal status with men in all religious, and social affairs and in accord with the law as such rights for women have been distinctively prescribed in the teachings of the Theravada Buddhism, traditions and culture, social values, ancient code of laws and the present -day existing laws.

The basic concept of the Myanmar men is that they regard women as equals considering them with sympathy as their own sisters or mother.

Moreover, it is the significant and noble tradition of Myanmar men to see their wife on equal terms with their mother or sister, or as a true companion with due respect and love.

As the women play a leading role in all the household affairs of a family of the Myanmar society which is based on the family values, the mother is being given the same status of the father.

It is no wonder that the women are outstanding and able to glorify all the national, religious, economic, education, health, cultural fields as they are born of and brought up in the society which gives honour to them.
 
The government is giving priority to all-round progress of the mother country, and in this context, it is also making systematic efforts to extend and strengthen the inborn rights of women which they have enjoyed throughout the successive eras, and to develop the women's sector in accord with the State's political, economic and social objectives and the national requirements.

It is also a time when effective efforts are being made to organize the active and brilliant force of the women in the national development endeavours. Thus, the government founded the Myanmar National Committee for Women's Affairs with the participation of the officials of State, representatives of humanitarian organizations and women's affairs groups, and the renowned persons of the education, health, administrative and social sectors.

The 3rd of July, the founding day of the Myanmar National Committee for Women's Affairs, has been designated "The Myanmar Women's Day" with honour, for the committee's formation is a historic undertaking, helping to uplift the reputation of the women who have a fine tradition of safeguarding the race and national interests, which helps develop the women's role and extends and strengthens the women's rights. In order to effectively uplift the role of women down to the grassroots levels in the entire nation, the MNCWA has formed the Myanmar National Working Committee for Women's Affairs and the subordinate bodies at states, divisions, districts and townships in building an active and effective force in accord with the duties assigned to it by the State.

The MNCWA, the Working Committee and the subordinate bodies have divided their tasks into eight sectors -- the education, health, economic, cultural, prevention of violence against women and rehabilitation, young women's development, environmental conservation and information sectors.

The MNCWA laid down the Myanmar National Action Plan for the Advancement of Women, and it is gaining success in implementing the tasks to uplift the reputation of women, to organize a women's force which is fully enjoying the women's rights and which will serve the State's interests, to produce healthy, fit, highly-educated and outstanding women, and for emergence of a women's force possessing the national identify, and which will safeguard and preserve traditions and culture and the race.

In the education sector, it is rendering cooperation in promoting the education, thoughts, outlook, spirit, patriotism, Union Spirit of the students and providing necessary assistance to them. It is also partaking in the health care, maternal health, birth spacing, anti-AIDS, vaccination and old-age health care projects in the health field.

The Committee is also opening vocational and vocational education courses to help increase the income of women. It is also giving health, education and cultural knowledge to young women, and protecting them against dangers.

In the prevention of violence against women and rehabilitation task, the Committee is compiling a data on the violence against women, giving protection to women, giving them knowledge of laws protecting them, opening compelling centres and protecting women from being sold into prostitution in foreign countries or marriage with foreigners.

It is also encouraging women to love, value and cherish their won traditions and culture and Myanmar characters.

In implementing its national level organization tasks, the Committee has held seminars on and laid down work plans for women's development; held the Myanmar National Women's Conference annually in successfully organizing women as a firm nation-building force; materialized the Beijing Declaration of the Fourth International Women's Conference in accord with Myanmar traditions and culture, history and the State's political, economic and social objectives; and collected the gender indicators to show the noble reputation and the high standard of living of Myanmar women to the international community with firm proof.

In the international cooperation sector, it signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women in1997; hosted the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in 2000; sponsored the National Seminar on Women's Health in cooperation with WHO; and observed the International Women's Day 2001.

It is satisfactory to see the MNCWA, the Working Committee and the subordinate bodies actively participating in all religious, national, education, health, social, cultural and school enrolment week activities.

One of the Committee's significant accomplishments is raising of K 2.65 million to provide a stipend of K 10,000 each to 264 children who were facing difficulties to attend classes. It will continue to raise more funds to provide assistance to more children of school age.

The Secretary-1 elaborated on the Committee's tree plantation programmes in which wives of the senior officials took part. As the new science and techniques and information and communication technologies are advancing with high velocity, the Committee should strive for continuous production of brilliant women in the various fields to enable Myanmar women to catch up with the international developments. However, attention must be paid to preserving the delicate, highly-civilized and brilliant nature of the Myanmar women.

In conclusion, the Secretary-1 spoke of the need to strive with constant awareness for continuous observance of the Myanmar Women's Day in the future; to strive for further flourishing and firmness of the women's rights and for progress of the women's sector with greater momentum; to strive to organize the women to become a brilliant national force taking part in the national development and nation-building tasks with dignity; and to collectively strive with national awareness for promotion and propagation of the spirit of Myanmar young women to uphold their race and traditions and culture and the patriotism and the Union Spirit.