Today, we celebrate the Mon Women’s Day. We celebrate this special day on the birthday of Mon queen Mi Sao Bu, who is the most respected woman in our Mon history. Queen Sao Bu is the only sovereign queen in the history of all Burma. She ruled the Mon kingdom of Hongsawaddy in the 15^th century A.D. During her rule, the nation was peaceful and prosperous. The glory of the Mon nation during her reign is unforgettable. In honor of the queen, we celebrate her birthday as the Mon Women's Day.

The objectives for our first celebration of the Mon Women's Day are:

- to raise awareness on the importance of the roles of women in society,

- to encourage women’s participation in decision-making,

- to join the international women’s community to fight for women’s rights     and for ending discrimination and violence against women, and

- to encourage Mon women’s active participation in the struggle for peace, freedom, and justice in our homeland, Burma.

On the Mon Women’s Day special occasion, we demand the ruling military junta in Burma to:

- stop all human rights violations in the country

- stop all abuses and violence against women, especially in the ethnic non-Burman territories, and bring all perpetrators to justice

- fully comply with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

- solve the prevailing political problems in the country by peaceful political means

 

 

Undersigned:

Mon Women and Child Rights (Librated Area)

Mon Women's Organization of America

Mon Women's Organization (Canada)