Self-decision making training for women concluded

Khonunthung News.com: 31 August, 2006

The Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) concluded ‘a self-decision making’ training programmed for women today that focuses on gender balance and will help in Chin women playing a leading role in society and politics.

Thirty delegates of political parties and women’s organizations from inside and outside Burma participated in the training.

“Indigenous women struggling under the oppression of the military dictatorship are denied participation in family decision making and other social activity. No seat is conceded to them by men. That is the main reason why we are giving the training so that the women can involve themselves in decision making” said Mai Dawt Chin, in-charge of Women and Children’s Affair of the CHRO.

Mai Dawt Chin also urged Chin women, accounting for half of the Chin population, to involve themselves in decision making and to eradicate the traditional prejudices. She also said that instead of standing behind, the women need to come forward in political and social sectors.

The training has been arranged for the majority of the women to attend in order to strengthen their capacity in different fields.

“I understand that because of our traditional beliefs we did consider and give space to women. We need to uplift their qualification and give them space” said a trainee.

Chin women and human rights organizations have come forward to see that the women who lost the role of decision making according to Chin traditional custom and culture, start to focus again and make capacity building of women so that they enjoy equal rights with men.

“I feel so satisfied with this sort of training. Before the training I never thought it would be so” said a woman trainee from Saiha.

The training was held between August 28 to 31.

Chin Human Rights Organization was formed in 1995 and often holds human rights and women’s training programmes on the Indo–Burma border.