Vice President U Henry Van Thio’s wife Dr. Shwe Hlwan delivered an opening speech at a talk on “Role of Women Leaders in Increasing Resistance to Adversity” held at the Thingaha Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.
In her opening speech, Dr. Shwe Hlwan said the day’s talk on Role of Women Leaders in Increasing Public Resistance to Adversity was led by MRCS.
MRCS was the only Red Cross organization in the country and was formed under MRCS Law as the country’s reserve force in the humanitarian assistance sector. Thus it is providing support and assistance without discriminating with regard to race, religion, political belief and gender with the aim of developing mutual friendship and understanding among human beings and peace in the country and abroad.
In doing this, in addition to supporting the recovery of women’s physical and mental damages in facing natural disasters, it places emphasis towards raising the role of women and achieving gender equality.
It had gained much experience by becoming a member of the Gender and Diversity Network of IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies).
Based on Sustainable Development Goals, Goal 5: Gender Equality and guidelines on women’s empowerment, a Gender and Diversity Policy was announced in 2017 for the balanced development of women in all sectors of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement as outlined in National Strategic Plan for the Advancement of Women (2013-2022) and acknowledging and accepting the rights of women and women having those full rights; raising the capacity of women in Myanmar through the support of the government based on gender equality.
MRCS follow this Policy and provides support specifically for women following IFRC’s minimum norms of DAPS – respecting the Dignity, equal Access to support and assistance without discrimination, equal Participation in decision making and Safety. Furthermore it provides support to expecting women and children, participation of women in health talks and in local health and natural disaster committees.
With the aim of increasing the health, security and mitigation efforts on occurrence of natural disasters, MRCS had implemented programs in cooperation with partner organizations for the participation of the people.
The day’s talk was held to increase the cooperation and participation of women in social and compassionate programs. Through sharing women’s understanding and experience on resisting adversity, the role of women leaders will be raised in increasing public resistance to adversity, said Dr. Shwe Hlwan.
Next, MRCS President Prof. Dr. Daw Mya Thu presented a commemorative gift to Dr. Shwe Hlwan, after which a commemorative group photo was taken.
Later, discussions were held by participants on MRCS activities and women’s roles in various sectors.
The following persons attended the above event:
Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr. Win Myat Aye, wives of Union Ministers, Deputy Minister for Health and Sports Dr. Mya Lay Sein, officials from Myanmar Women’s Affair Federation, Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association, Myanmar Nurses and Midwife Association, Myanmar Women Entrepreneurs Association, Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS), state and region Red Cross administrative committees and civil society organizations.— MNA
(Translated by Zaw Min)
