Organized by women, the Mon Women’s Day was held at the Mon Temple in Calgary, Canada on Saturday, March 7, 2009.

Mon Women Organization (Canada) modestly celebrated the event with speeches by Chairperson Ms. Mi Yin Aye and Mon Canadian Society Chairperson Ms. Pyah Sorn followed by lunch.

The Mon Women’s Day was chosen to celebrate the birthday of Queen Shin Saw Pu, the only queen in Burmese history. Queen Shin Saw Pu (Mi Jao Bu) ruled Hongsawatoi Mon Kingdom or lower Burma from 1453 to 1472 and she was also famous for her effective governance. 

A joint statement, released on March 7, 2009 by Mon women organizations from Thai-Burma border, Canada and USA called for the military regime to comply with the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and to initiate a genuine tripartite dialogue for democratic reform and national reconciliation in Burma.  The Mon women also called on the Burmese military regime to halt sexual violence against the ethnic women as a weapon of war. The raping, torturing and murdering of ethnic women is widespread in which thousands of women and children have become internally displaced persons and refugees as a result of human rights violations, land confiscations, and the economic oppression.

Several Mon women are active in community development, health and national education initiatives.  However, only one woman, Ms. Mi Sadar has been elected as member of the Central Committee for the New Mon State Party. 

“The Karen (KNU) has a woman leader as Secretary General post and women leaders such as Dr. Cynthia Maung, Khin Ohnmar and Nang Cham Tong are well-known among the ethnic and democratic forces.  The Mon women need to strengthen their position,” said Oakar Mon, an activist based on Thai-Burma border. 

Queen Shin Saw Pu (Mi Jao Bu) ruled Hongsawatoi Mon Kingdom or lower Burma from 1453 to 1472

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