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Background
The emergence of the union of Burma in 1948 was the outcome of a mutual
understanding that the union would be one of co-equal, co-independent states,
which was the spirit of the Pang Long
agreement in 1947. However,
after independence, the mutual understanding between the ethnic people was
lost and decades of civil war ensued all over the country.
These wars have especially impacted women and children.
Women, particularly those belonging to ethnic minorities, have faced
unnspeakable suffering, such as the death of husbands and family members,
forced laboring and portering, rape, torture, extra-judicial killings, forced
relocations, extortion, and confiscation of land and property by the military.
The sufferings of the people escalated after the brutal crackdown
on the 1988 pro-democracy movement. The current military junta has continued
to systematically violate human rights, causing many citizens, including
Burmans, to flee the country to bordering areas such as Bangladesh, India,
and Thailand.
The WLB believes firmly that the contribution of women in the struggle to bring
about human rights, democracy and equal rights for all nationalities in
Burma will have a great impact,
and their participation in the national reconciliation and peace-building
process is essential.
With these aims
in view, the second Forum of Women's Organizations of Burma was held in
Chiang Mai from December 7 to 9, 1999.
Women who attended the forum shared their views on ways and means
to find a common platform, and how to work together to promote the role
and participation of women at all levels, including national affairs.
In order to increase
the participation of women in the struggle for democracy and human rights,
to build mutual understanding among all nationals and participate in the
national reconciliation and development process, and to enhance the role
of the women of Burma both at national and international levels, the Women's
League of Burma was established on December 9, 1999. Currently, there
are eleven member organizations.
The
current membership is comprised of the following organizations.
- Burmese Women's Union (BWU)
- Kachin Women's Association-Thailand (KWAT)
- Karen Women's Organization (KWO)
- Karenni National Women's Organization (KNWO)
- Kuki Women's Human Rights Organization (KWHRO)
- Lahu Women's Organization (LWO)
- Palaung Women's Organization (PWO)
- Pa-O Women's Union (PWU)
- Rakhaing Women's Union (RWU)
- Shan Women's Action Network (SWAN)
- Tavoy Women's Union (TWU)
- Women's
Rights and Welfare Association of Burma (WRWAB)
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Organizational
Structure
Three-fold organizational structure:
I.
Congress
II.
Presidium Board
III.
Secretariat
The
Congress has the highest decision-making power, followed by the
presidium board. The secretariat
is elected by the Congress to implement the tasks laid down by the Congress
and the Presidium Board. Under
the secretariat, working groups comprised of appointed members reinforce
the secretariat to implement the work plans of the WLB.
The first Congress of WLB
elected a three-member Secretariat, who were responsible for implementing
programs as well as running the secretariat office.
The presidium board was also formed with one representative from
each member organization.
The term for each Congress is two years, the same as for the secretariat
and presidium board. Presidium
board meetings take place
every 8 months, and five
members take turns to oversee the program implementation of the secretariat,
draw up policies and make strategic plans for the WLB.
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Congressional
Platform Priority Areas:
I.
Capacity building
II.
Foreign relations and networking
III.
Peace and reconciliation
IV.
Refugee Affairs
The
Secretariat will carry out programs and activities based on these four
areas together with the program design team and the acting presidium board
(designated every eight months).
The
aim and the objectives of the WLB as laid down by the first Congress:
-
To work for women's empowerment
and advancement of the status of women
-
To work for the increased
participation of women in all spheres of society
-
To work for the increased
participation of women in the democracy movement, and peace and national
reconciliation processes.
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