The ceremony of Internation­al Women’s Day which fell on 8 March 2023 took place at the Myanmar International Conven­tion Centre-II in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday and State Adminis­tration Council Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing gave an opening speech via a video message (see the speech on page 5).

Honorary Patrons Daw Khin Thet Htay and Daw Than Than Nwe of the Myanmar Women’s Affairs Federation-MWAF, Daw Ohnmar Myint, wife of State Ad­ministration Council-SAC Sec­retary Lt-Gen Aung Lin Dwe, SAC members and their wives, Union Minister for Legal Affairs Dr Thidar Oo, Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Thet Thet Khaing, Union ministers’ wives, the wife of Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman, judges of the Union Supreme Court, members of the Constitutional Tribunal of the Union, deputy ministers’ and wives, the wife of Nay Pyi Taw Command Commander, chairpersons and members of the Myanmar Women’s Af­fairs Federation-MWAF, the Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association-MMCWA, the Myanmar Women's and Children’s Life Promotion As­sociation-MWCLPA and the My­anmar Women’s Sports Federa­tion-MWSF, invitees and officials were present on the occasion.

First of all, SAC Chairman Prime Minister Senior Gener­al Min Aung Hlaing delivered the opening speech via video message.Myanmar National Committee on Women-MNCW Chairperson Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Thet Thet Khaing explained the measures for the development of women, the promotion of women’s rights and the prevention of violence against women in various forms. Then, the MNCW Secretary and Director-General of the Depart­ment of Social Welfare read the formal message sent by the Sec­retary General of the United Nations.

Afterwards, MWAF Honor­ary Patron Daw Khin Thet Htay presented to the chairpersons and the secretarstet of MWAF and MMCWA. MWAF Honorary Patron Daw Than Than Nwe also awarded the Excellence Awards in the Women’s Sector to the chairpersons and the sec­retaries of MWCLPA and MWSF.

Later, MNCW Vice-Chair­man Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettle­ment U Soe Kyi handed over the handbooks of the manage­ment of safe temporary shelters for women victims of violence compiled by the Department of Social Welfare to the chairman and the secretary of Women's Committee in Union Territory, Nay Pyi Taw, on behalf of Nay Pyi Taw Council, and represent­atives of the regions and states.

Finally, the honorary pa­trons of MWAF, the wives of the SAC Secretary and the SAC members took documen­tary photos with attendees and viewed the exhibitions in cele­bration of International Wom­en’s Day. — MNA/CT