Description:
"The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) has presented the 2021 Sir Ronald
Wilson Human Rights Award to The Women’s League of Burma.
The Women’s League of Burma (WLB) is a national network of 13 ethnic women’s rights
organisations working towards the advancement of the status of women for a peaceful, just and
federal democratic union for over 20 years.
In the immediate aftermath of the military takeover earlier this year, WLB closed its Yangon office
and established an advocacy team to work underground in Burma/Myanmar and across the
border in Thailand and India. They now produce a monthly situation report detailing human rights
violations against women, which has become a key source of data used by journalists, global
analysts and activists.
Presenting the award ACFID President Susan Pascoe said
“Throughout 2021, WLB has been at the forefront of challenging the military coup in Myanmar,
demonstrating outstanding leadership in international advocacy promoting women’s human
rights.
“Members of the WLB risk their lives every day to defend and advance the rights of women of all
ethnic identities in Burma. This award acknowledges their courage in the face of violence.
Continuing on, Marc Purcell, CEO of ACFID, stated that
“ACFID supports WLB’s call for urgent action to reject the military junta and support a transition
towards an inclusive, federal democracy.”
WLB has taken a strong public position in promoting the human rights of Rohingya women. It was
one of the first civil society organisations in Myanmar to speak out against the military’s deadly
crackdown on the Rohingya Muslims in August 2017, which resulted in more than 700,000 people
fleeing across the border into Bangladesh.
On receiving the award, the General Secretary of the WLB, Naw Hser Hser said,
“Following the coup, the majority of the people of Burma, including democracy activists and
women’s human rights activists, have felt let down by much of the international community. This
award sends the message to women human rights defenders in Burma, including from the 13
member organizations of WLB, that the Australian community does recognise and support our
struggle for justice and peace. The award motivates us, boosts us to withstand any obstacles and
helps sustain us.
“We hope through this award more people in the Australian community will understand the scale
of atrocities committed by the military junta and will reject the military junta, and over 70 years of
struggle of ethnic nationalities against the dictatorship.
“We hope the international community, including the Australian Government, will join with other
democracies to adopt targeted sanctions on military leaders and their business interests. [We
hope that]
“This award is dedicated to all heroines, both fallen and alive, especially ethnic women, who have
dedicated their lives to our struggle for fundamental rights. On behalf of WLB, I would like to say
thank you and express our most sincere gratitude and appreciation for presenting us with the Sir
Ronald Wilson Human Rights Award from the Australian Council for International Development.
We are humbled at the recognition of our work, and accept the award with grace and humility.”..."
Source/publisher:
The Australian Council for International Development
Date of Publication:
2021-11-22
Date of entry:
2021-11-23
Grouping:
- Individual Documents
Category:
Countries:
Myanmar
Language:
English
Local URL:
Format:
pdf
Size:
145.71 KB
Resource Type:
text
Text quality:
- Good