The forum will be organised by the Embassy of France and the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society (WEFCOS) with the support of Myanmar’s Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.
The event will bring together more than 400 participants from various sectors all over the world, including businesses, civil society, media, government, and parliament, to discuss issues relating to women’s vision of Myanmar’s transition in a global environment.
The agenda will include such issues as entrepreneurship, responsible investment, health, education, culture, peace building, leadership, and freedom of expression.
“It will feature some of the world’s most inspiring women leaders and will highlight best practices and partnerships from the region and internationally. The real stars of the meeting, though, are the Myanmar speakers and participants,” an official from the French Embassy said today.
“This is a historic and unprecedented opportunity to meet and establish dialogues with Myanmar women of courage, authority and distinction. It will also be an exciting occasion to gain insight and to encourage women in a society on the cusp of immense economic and social development.”
“Women have a major role to play in the (democratisation) process. France is giving great attention to gender equality and women’s empowerment, which are a national priority not only at home but also in terms of foreign policy as shown by the new criteria guiding French ODA. The French Embassy has been very active in supporting NGOs which promote women’s rights in Myanmar,” French Ambassador Thierry Mathou was quoted as saying on the Women’s Forum website.
Together with UNFPA, the French Embassy co-chaired the Sectoral Working Group on enhancing women’s empowerment launched in Nay Pyi Taw in July last year.
High-profile Myanmar and international personalities including Myat Myat Ohn Khin, Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement; Aung San Suu Kyi, chairperson of the Rule of Law, Peace and Stability Committee of the Lower House; and Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, will be present among the speakers.
The forum aims to propose concrete actions such as funding programs aimed at promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in the Southeast Asian country, offering scholarships to young women hoping to study in France, and paving the way for all types of cooperation that put women’s rights on the top of the political agenda.
source: Eleven Myanmar
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