For Immediate Release: 27 February 2009 ASEAN CIVIL SOCIETY DELEGATION TO MEET HEADS OF GOVERNMENT THIS WEEKEND
4. MS. KHIN OHMAR (BURMA/MYANMAR)
Phone (Thai) + 668 1884 0772
Khin Ohmar serves as the chair of the Network for Democracy and Development (Burma), vice-chair of Burmese Women’s Union and policy forum member of Forum for Democracy in Burma—an umbrella organization of Burmese political groups in exile. She is a founding member of the Women’s League of Burma (WLB) – an umbrella women organization and served as the coordinator of the peace-building and reconciliation program for the WLB. She also served as the women’s affairs coordinator for the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma. She tirelessly advocates for greater international attention to the ongoing human rights crisis in Burma.
In 1995, she testified before the U.S. Senate, describing the terrifying scenes that she witnessed as a teenager. She ended her testimony with a plea for unity. “We must all work toward advancing a dialogue that will bring peace and reconciliation.” It’s a message she still carries with her today. She is a 1996 recipient of refugee leader of promise award by the Women’s Commission on Refugee Women and Children.
5. MS. MARIA ESTRELLA PENUNIA (PHILIPPINES)
Maria Estrella Penunia, or Esther, as called by colleagues, is Secretary General of the Asian Farmers’ Association or AFA, a regional alliance of national farmers organizations (FOs) in Asia. Established in 2002, AFA is currently composed of nine FOs in eight countries, representing around 10 million small scale men and women farmers.
AFA carries out programs on policy advocacy, capacity building, management of on-ground initiatives and governance. It conducts activities related to policy information, analyses and campaigns as well as dialogues with decision makers, both at national and regional levels. It provides technical and managerial support to members’ initiatives on farmers’ organizing and empowerment, organizational development and management, access to natural and production resources, sustainable agriculture, equity led marketing and trading. It likewise develops projects along these areas that are implemented in selected countries.
http://www.apf2008.org/node/117
