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10th Mon Women Day celebrated on Mawlamyine

Last week Mon women joined together in celebration of the 10th Mon Women’s Day. The date of the annual celebration takes place on March 1st, honoring the birthday of famed Mon Queen Shin Saw Puu. This year’s celebration event was held at the Mon Dhamma Hall, Mawlamyine, Mon State.

The event was organized by five Mon groups, including the Mon Women’s Network, the Mon Women’s Organizations, The Women’s Empowerment Project, the Mon Youth Progressive Organization, and the Saytanar Foundation. Event activities included explanations on the history of Mon Women’s Day and a role play about violence against women, performed by the Women’s Empowerment Project (WEP).

“Our women have skills and are brave,” said Mi Lwai Han, spokeswoman for the Mon Women’s Day event, “We see women taking place in the women’s sessions on education and health issues, but [women’s participation] is still weak in the political sector. I want the women to work in the political sector, then women can participate in establishing peace.”

The celebration was attended by around 40 organizations, including community-based organizations (CBOs), government groups, education and health department groups, social service groups, Mon State police, and about 200 civilian attendees. Presentations, handouts, and statements were presented to the crowd in Mon, Burmese and English languages.

A press statement for the event identifies a number of women’s issues, especially the situation of violence that affects women in Myanmar, including Mon women, and the weak response from authorities for ethnic women who have been victim to military rape.

Mi Than Htay, general secretary of the Tara Foundation, shared her experience of the event, “I received knowledge from the Mon Women’s Day event and I can also give suggestions. I would like all of our women [to become] involved in the political issue. If we want to change something, we should work until we attain it; nothing will happen if we just talk and take no action.”

Though this year marks the 10th anniversary of Mon Women’s Day, celebrations have only been formally held in Mawlamyine for three years. In the past, Mon Women’s Day events rotated every year between in Thaton District, Mawlamyine, and Htar wal District.

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