Everybody, Mingalaba!
First, I would like to extend greetings with the best wishes for all the guests attending today’s International Women’s Day ceremony 2023 to be physical and mentally well with auspiciousness.
The number of women, more than half
of the global population, is a primary force in global countries and they have
been marking International Women’s Day throughout the world with the aim of
emphasizing the creation of opportunities for women for focusing on entitlement
and capability of women.
The United Nations annually sets the
themes for women’s day and this year’s theme was set as “Digit ALL: Innovation
and technology for gender equality” which means studies on the impacts of
gender diversity in the digital technology sector. It highlights the importance
of tackling violence based on technological gender.
Creating chances for women and
vulnerable groups to have access to technology is to fulfil the requirement of
women as well as help emerge the good potential for creating knowledge and
innovativeness so as to enhance gender equality. The lack of chances for women
in the technological sector causes large costs. According to the UN Women’s
Gender Snapshot 2022 report, setting aside women from the digital world caused
a US$1 trillion loss in the GDP of low-income countries and middle-income
countries within a decade. If anyone can do nothing in such a case, the loss
will amount to US$1.5 trillion in 2025.
Not to happen so, it is necessary to
tackle the cyber violence problems. According to a survey of 51 countries, 38
per cent of women themselves faced online violence. The number of women who
spent longer time online during the Covid-19 period increased in suffering
online and information technological violence, according to the survey report.
However, it is necessary to consider
that the chances based on the advancement of digital technologies help continue
the existence of gender inequality. As the survey mentioned that women get
lesser results in digital gender discrimination and the gender inequality in
the digital skill arena is high, I would like to urge all to take care of these
points.
All countries fulfil the need for the
empowerment of women in gender equality. Although women enjoy equal of rights,
there are many requirements for gender equality in accord with the prescribed
culture of relevant countries and traditions and customs. Everybody knows some
hindrances can be seen in the reform process.
The information age commenced in
1990, and the rapid development of computer technology and science and
technology and information technology contribute much to all sectors.
Currently, the rapid advancement of digital technology and wider connections
help obtain information, socioeconomic development opportunities through
digital technology, and learning knowledge for accumulation so as to contribute
much to the daily life of the people. In order to enable both men and women to
the sustainable development goals while enjoying these technological
advantages, it is necessary to arrange innovation, enhancement of technological
and digital knowledge for approaching gender affairs, accessing the technology
and giving technological training.
The policy on gender affairs was
mentioned in the entitlement and all-inclusiveness of the pillar-1 of the Human
Resources Development Sector, Advanced Science and Technology Sector in Chapter
V of the Science, technology and innovation strategic plan (2022-2027) drawn by
the Advanced Science and Technology Department under the Ministry of Science
and Technology. Such a strategic plan was created in connection with the
National Comprehensive Development Plan-NCDP.
Our country conducts the necessary
human resources development courses and technological courses. If the trainees
are in line with relevant criteria, it can be seen that chances are created for
all trainees without gender discrimination. The attendance rate of women at
technological and computer universities accounted for 40 per cent from 2016 to 2019
but 48 per cent in 2020.
If women have access to technology
and are digitally skilful in the use of monetary services based on digital
technology, they will have the chance to operate more vocational businesses.
And, only when those women can do their own businesses without any dependence
will their socio-economic life improve and so will State economic development
measures.
Improvement of refreshed technologies
brings advantages. On the other hand, applying technologies to exploit women
with cyber-bullying and intimidation as well as force to commit terror acts and
crimes are still happening.
Based on the interim census
population in 2019, some 86 per cent of households in Myanmar possess at least
one mobile phone. With regard to applying the internet, 56 per cent of
households in the country use the internet at home, accounting for 74.7 per
cent in urban and 48.8 per cent in rural areas. It is expected that the
percentage of internet users would rise after 2019. Currently, all children
starting school-age children are friendly with mobile phones.
By using mobile phones, the majority
of children, youths and girls can enjoy the good result but they may face
danger with lack of results in wrongly applying it. So, parents, teachers and
guardians are responsible for those users not derailing from the ways of
seeking general knowledge for life development through using mobile phones. So
also, it is necessary to carry out sharing of knowledge through media. If so,
the correct human resources will come out for the nation so as to build a
comprehensive society.
In the ASEAN region, the action plan
for the whole ASEAN has been schemed for protecting children including girls
against exploitation and abuse on the internet.
In reviewing the international
conventions for enabling women to enjoy the equal rights and overcome
discrimination, the UN General Assembly held on 18 December 1979 adopted the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against
Women-CEDAW which mentions entitlements in political, economic, social and
cultural sectors, and it pledges comprehensive development of a country, and it
needs to raise the participation of women shoulder to shoulder with men in all
arenas as much as possible for having the prosperity and peacemaking process
across the world.
Myanmar signed the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women-CEDAW in 1997 and is
seriously implementing the provisions of the convention as it is a member of
the convention. According to the interim census population in 2019, the
information mentioned 46.8 per cent of men and 53.2 per cent of women in the
54.9 million population in Myanmar. It mentioned that emphasizing the
development of the women’s sector would affect the improvement of the nation.
Hence, the government formed the
Myanmar National Committee for Women’s Affairs and regional committees at
different levels, especially implementing the improvement of women’s lives in
the enhancement of the socioeconomic life of girls, gender equality in all
sectors and wider realization of the women’s sector. In so doing, the national
strategic plan for women’s development (2013-2022) has been implemented for all
sectors.
As the national strategic plan came
to a close in 2022. So, the steering committee and 12 work committees have been
formed for drawing the new strategic plan (2023-2032). I would like to urge all
to draw a comprehensively strategic plan focusing on gender equality in all
sectors, enhancement of women’s capacity and narrowing the rural and urban
development gap based on modern technologies and relevant work committees are
to actively participate in their assignments in order to connect with the
projects of relevant ministries and organizations.
I would like to express my
acknowledgement for taking pride in the capacity of women who shoulder with men
in political, economic and social processes to protect and develop the
interests of families, society, country and nationality throughout the history
of Myanmar.
It is necessary to draw new policies,
procedures and laws which need to overcome hindrances and challenges that women
and girls traditionally face. Meanwhile, the need to effectively protect women
and girls under the existing laws should be amended in conformity with current
situations.
In conclusion, I would like to say
that today is the knowledge age and well-versed human resources play a crucial
role in the development of a country. Hence, women accounting for more than
half of the country’s population are a powerful force in building the Union
based on democracy and federalism and they are very valuable and powerful human
resources.
As the majority of women are the
mothers as well as early teachers of children, they play a key role in
nurturing the youths for the future of the nation.
I would like to urge all to
collaboratively participate in applying the capacity of women and girls as
valuable human resources in all sectors with narrowing the urban and rural
development gap and creating chances for women to keep abreast of men to have a
sustainable developed future in line with the motto: Digit All: Innovation and
technology for gender equality set as the theme of this year’s International
Women’s Day.
Thank you all.
#TheGlobalNewLightOfMyanmar
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