The Kawthoolei Women’s Network has been established to promote women’s representation, according to reports.
Naw Htoo Htoo, chair of the organizing committee for the Kawthoolei Women’s Seminar, stated that the Kawthoolei Women’s Network was formed during the three-day seminar.
“We agreed to form the Kawthoolei Women’s Network. It was established with the aim of amplifying women’s voices,” said Naw Htoo Htoo.
The Kawthoolei Women’s Seminar was held from 27 to 29 May in a border area of Kawthoolei. (Kawthoolei is the Karen word for the Karen people/nation.)
Regarding the main purpose of forming the Kawthoolei Women’s Network, Naw Htoo Htoo explained: “At the Kawthoolei Seminar, women from all walks of life gathered and participated. Our goal is to build a self-governing and democratic Kawthoolei unit, and this is our first step.”
The newly formed Kawthoolei Women’s Network will primarily include Karen women, with women representatives from the Karen National Union (KNU)’s seven districts and townships, local community organizations, and individuals.
Naw Htoo Htoo also mentioned that efforts would continue to include women from other minority ethnic groups.
During the seminar, an agreement was reached to advocate for at least 30 percent women’s representation in the upcoming 18th KNU Congress (departments, districts, military, and civilian sectors), said Naw Htoo Htoo.
Other key agreements reached at the symposium included: combating illegal businesses and gambling, including online scams, within the Kawthoolei area and collaborating to ensure unimpeded access for humanitarian aid.
In addition, the agreements strongly condemned the military council’s aerial attacks and called for international action.
They also urged for emergency assistance for refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), and a request was made to the Thai government to recognize the skills of border refugees and grant them legal employment.
Over 140 representatives attended the Kawthoolei Women’s Seminar, including officials and representatives from the Karen National Union (KNU) and various Karen civil society organizations, as well as independent scholars and leading figures in Myanmar’s democracy movement.
Sent by NMG.