Karen women honoured for community developments

On International Women’s Day, Karen Women’s Organization (KWO) honors 10 Karen women serving ethnic groups in underdeveloped areas.

The Karen women were honored during a ceremony on March 8 in Mae-Sot, Thailand.

Susana Soe, Minister of Women, Youths and Children Affairs Ministry, spoke on the goal of gender equality.

“Gender equality today is for a sustainable tomorrow. It is to achieve gender equality and strengthen woman and young girls. It is a time to end all the discrimination against women and girls. To end all forms of violence against all women and girls. To recognize and value unpaid domestic works. To ensure full women participation and equal opportunity for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic and public affairs,” she said.

Thramu Dorcus Moo and Thramu Paw Moo were awarded for their outstanding dedication to the Karen Education Development.

Thramu Pi Th’law, Thranu Ku Ku Kyu, Thramu Hsa Moo, Thramu K’paw Say were awarded for their dedication to social welfare and the protection of the environment.

One awardee Thramu K’paw Say expressed gratitude to be among other women awardees.

“Working for the good of the rural inhabitants in the conflict areas is very crucial and is even dangerous to life. It is very stressful to stand for the people and speak out for them so much so that it can affect my physical and mental health” said Thramu K’paw Say.

Thramu K’paw Say says that in the past, those who advocated for the environment had to act in the midst of fear and anxiety.

“There is no rule of law in environment conservation and we have to protect nature and creation. I have seen that some of the people have become courageous to stand and speak out for the community and I feel that my previous effort is really successful and I am very pleased and proud of it,” said Thramu K’paw Say.

Thramu Lwe Say Htoo and Thramu Eh Moo Na were awarded for their dedication to their nation and rule of law.

Thramu Htoo Htoo was awarded for her outstanding dedication to Human Rights.

And Thramu Nway Nway Oo was awarded for her outstanding contribution for Human Rights and Child Protection.

Karen Women’s Organization (KWO) is a leading indigenous women’s organization working to protect women, girls, children, and the most vulnerable people in the community. KWO promote women’s leadership, gender sensitivity and community ownership in all aspect of its work.

KWO was formed in 1949 and re-organized in 1985. Currently, KWO has a membership of more than 70,000 women living in Karen State, Myanmar and in refugee camps along the Thai-Myanmar border.

KWO conducts programs related to information-sharing, education, health and social welfare.

KWO participates in the struggle to stop all kinds of oppression of women and children, providing support for communities in the Thai-Myanmar border and in Karen State, Myanmar.

KWO believes that empowering women will help reduce human rights abuses and lead to end discrimination against women. It believes that women have a right to be properly represented in politics and society. It also believes that the whole community is better off when women play an equal role with men in decision-making.

The award ceremony was supposed to be held in April 2021, as the KWO was celebrating 36 years of committed leadership and women-driven advocacy.