About us
Background
The nation known as Burma was established in 1948 as an outcome of the Pang Long Agreement of 1947, a mutual understanding between Burmese ethnic groups that the newly formed union would be one of co-equal and co-independent states. However, this solidarity between the ethnic groups quickly deteriorated, and exacerbated by a military coup in 1962 that effectively dismantled the union’s constitution, Burma was plunged into a decades-long civil war that is still waging today. Having already endured more than two decades of war, the suffering of the Burmese people was further escalated when the brutal military regime of Burma staged a fierce crackdown on 1988’s pro-democracy movement resulting in increased human rights violations all across the nation.
Today, crimes of violence and oppression against the Burmese people have only worsened under the control of the current military regime. Through tactics of rape, sexual slavery, torture, forced relocation, forced labor, extra-judicial killing, extortion, and confiscation of property, the Burmese people have been made to bear extreme hardship at the hands of the regime. Far from enjoying the rights afforded to their male counterparts, all nationalities of women from Burma are especially victimized by the negative effects of war. Rape and other acts of sexual violence against women are used as tools of war by the regime to demoralize ethnic communities with the dual intention of exterminating their cultural origins and gaining control of their land and resources. For these reasons, many Burmese men, women, and children have fled to neighboring countries where they are able to continue to struggle for the establishment of democracy and human rights in Burma from abroad.
It is an undeniable fact that the contribution and participation of women in this struggle to bring about human rights, democracy and equal rights for all nationalities is essential to the larger goal of peace building and national reconciliation for Burma. With this spirit in mind, 12 women’s organizations based along Burma’s borders in Thailand, India and Bangladesh held the second forum of the Women’s Organizations of Burma in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from December 7-9, 1999. Women who attended the forum discussed and 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 in national affairs and women’s affairs.
From discussions in this forum, the 12 participating women’s groups unanimously decided to form an umbrella organization, comprising already-existing women’s organizations of different ethnic backgrounds. On December 9, 1999, the Women’s League of Burma was formed. Through its three functioning arms, namely the Peace Building and Reconciliation Program, the Women Against Violence Program, and the Political Empowerment Program, the WLB is dedicated 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 the democracy movement and society; and to build peace and national reconciliation processes through capacity building, advocacy, research and documentation. By working together, and encouraging cooperation between the different groups, the Women’s League of Burma hopes to build trust, solidarity and mutual understanding among women of all nationalities in Burma. Currently there are 13 serving members.
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)
- Kayan Women’s Organization (KyWO)
- 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)
WLB’s Mission Statement:
The Women’s League of Burma (WLB) is an organization working for the advancement of the status of women towards a peaceful and just society
WLB’s Aims
- To work for the empowerment and advancement of the status of women
- To work for the rights of women and gender equality
- To work for the elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against women
- To work for the increased women participation in every level of decision making in all spheres of society
- To participate effectively in the movement for peace, democracy and national reconciliation
WLB’s Values:
- Mutual respect (no discrimination, recognition and encouragement)
- Prevent and protect women from all forms of violence
- Equality regardless of beliefs (respect for human rights and women’s rights)
- Practice democratic principles and equality
- Responsibility, accountability and transparency
- Believe in gender equality
- Practice peaceful co-existence
Structure
The organizational structure of the WLB is threefold – the Congress, the Presidium Board and the 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 by the Congress and the Presidium Board. The Presidium Board is formed with one representative from each member organization. The term for each Congress is two years, which is the same for the Secretariat and Presidium Board. Presidium Board meetings take place every 8 months when 2 active Presidium Boardmembers will take the responsibility, by rotation, of assisting the secretariat to improve communication with the rest of the Presidium Board.
At the WLB Congress, the WLB member organizations name their Presidium Board member who will make policies and decisions, and the Congress elects three secretaries for the implementation of the WLB’s activities, as well as to oversee all program and project activities for the following term. The WLB has identified priority program areas as: Peace Building and Reconciliation, Women against Violence, and Women’s Political Empowerment Program – including developing strategies of capacity building and internal and international advocacy.
