Linkedwith our presentation of Naw Zipporrah Sein – Burma/Myamar.
Linked also with our presentation of U.N Must Act to End Attacks on Karen in Burma/Myamar.
The Karen Women’s Organisation was formed in 1949 and has a membership of over 30,000 women. The K.W.O is a community-based organisation of Karen women working in development and relief in the refugee camps on the Thai border and with I.D.Ps (Internally Displaced Persons) and women inside Burma. Since our formation in 1949 we have expended our focus from one of purely social welfare to try to encourage an awareness of Women’s Rights and to promote women’s participation in politics.
The objectives of the KWO
To assist women in the endeavour to be free from all forms of oppression.
To promote and empower women in all spheres of life, including education and general living standards.
To encourage women to participate in the struggle for freedom, democracy and equality.
To develop women’s knowledge, ability and skills, including political and organisational skills.
To achieve the rights of women and equal status with men.
To promote and maintain Karen culture and traditions.
KWO aims to empower women through offering various capacity building trainings to teach skills, build confidence and create new opportunities so that women will be better able to solve their own problems. We are working hard to educate ourselves and our communities so that we can work more effectively and advocate for our struggle on the international stage. (Read more on Karen Women org).
Project: AJWS supports KWO’s three Women’s Resource Centers along the Thai-Burmese border. The Centers were originally established in 1999 with funding from WEAVE, another AJWS-supported organization. These Resource Centers provide a safe and supportive location for Karen women who are actively involved in women’s development issues and community work. The Centers, which are used for planning, education and training workshops, help to facilitate communication between KWO, community-based Karen women’s groups – including ethnic women living in refugee camps – ethnic women’s organizations from Burma, and international women’s organizations. This year, KWO will be expanding their work to include vocational skills and income generation training, as well as training in leadership, community management and human rights for internally displaced women inside Karen State. Men are also invited to attend the workshops on literacy and non-formal education. (Read more on American Jewish World Service).
links:
Report Shattering Silences, and Background;