THE WORLD FELLOWSHIP OF BUDDHISTS
STANDING COMMITTEE ON
WOMEN
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Tel: (662) 6611284-87
Fax: (662) 6610555
E-mail: wfb_hq@asianet.co.th
Website:
http://www.wfb-hq.org
The Development of the
Committee.
The Standing Committee of Women was established
on October 30 B.E. 2538 (1992). It is one of nine standing Committees
of the World Fellowship of Buddhists: Finance; Publication,
Publicity, Education, Culture & Art; Dhammadatu Activities;
Humanitarian Services; Unity & Solidarity; Youth; Socio-Economic
Development; Women; Buddhist Pancasila Samadanda.
Khunying
Suthama Auychai (Thailand) was the first Chairwomen of the Protem
Committee, elected by the Members, consisting of 7 officers and Dr.
Sritaptim Panitpan (Thailand) as secretary of October 30, B.E.
2535-37 (1992-1994) at Fo Kuang Shan, Kaohiung, Taiwan. The Protem
Committee had undertaken a variety of activities and programs of two
years, until November 27, B.E. 2537 (1994) when Khunying Suthama
Auychai had submitted her resignation from the Chairwoman to the
Executive Council due to her personal reasons.
Dr. Sritaptim
Panitpan had been elected as Acting Chairperson of the Committee held
at the WFB nineteenth General Conference and the WFBY Ninth General
Conference, at China Room, Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel Bangkok,
Thailand.
At the Twentieth General Conference the WFB held
from October 29 to November 2 B.E. 2541/ 1998 at the Nan Tien Temple,
Berkeley, Wollongong, Australia, a new Standing Committee on Women
was elected and chaired by Dr. Sritaptim Panitpan.
The Aims
and Objectives of the Committee are as follows :
1. To uplift
the status of women in society.
2. To Promote the roles of women
in Buddhism.
3. To strengthen women’s roles in the WFB.
4.
To improve women’s roles to assist the WFB in achieving its
objectives.
5. To ensure equal opportunity of education for
children.
THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE FROM B.E. 2535 -
2543 / 1992 - 2000 ( IN BRIEF)
1. The Constitution of the
Committee was published.
2. Sending of many goodwill cards to
the Board and EXCO members, President, Vice-President of WFB and
Members on Magha-Puja Day, Visakha-Puja Day, New Year Day.
3.
Many conferences were held on special occasions e.g. Roles of Thai
Women in Buddhism; Roles of Women in Globalization; The Roles of
Sangha in Child and Family Development.
4. Having closer
contacts with Embassies in Bangkok, e.g. with Sri Lankan Embassy to
exchange ideas, visions, etc. Concerning women children.
5.
Having courtesy visits to WFB regional Centres in Australia , New
Zealand.
6. Publishing and circulating 4 volumes of
Newsletters to regional centres, members and various committees.
7.
Producing a Brochure of the Committee
8. Establishing fund
for the Committee; and so on.
The Program/ activities of
the Committee in B.E. 2543- 2545 / 2000 - 2002
1. To Publish
quarterly newsletters of the committee;
2. To assist Regional
Centres in the formation of partnership;
3. To create networks
between women groups of the WFB Regional Centres
4. To increase
membership of Regional Centres representatives
5. To publish a
booklet ‘ Women’s roles in Buddhist Activities in WFB
Regional Centres.
6. To provide a brochure of the Standing
Committee on Women;
7. To conduct joint research on social
services; women and children updated issues;
8. To exchange
documents / information between the Committee and our Regional
Centres;
9. To increase cultural exchange and awareness of the
women’s status in other cultures through field trips and student
exchange programs;
10. To work towards ensuring educational
equality for all children, regardless of gender
11. To publish
the Buddha’s teachings on women in our newsletters and to
collate these into a booklet entitled’ The Buddha’s
Teachings on Women’.
12. To place our brochure and
newsletters on the Internet.
13. The Buddhist Discussion Centre
(Upwey) Ltd. as a Regional Centre, will edit and publish our
newsletters on their Web Site.
The current Committee Members:
1. Chairperson :
Dr. Sritaptim Panitpan
2.
Vice-Chairperson :
1) Mrs Wimala Somaratne (Sri Lanka)
2)
Mrs. Hung Yi Shou (Taiwan)
3. Secretary : Mrs Kanchana
Soonsawad (Thailand)
4. Assistant Secretary : Mrs Plumchit
Chunhawat (Thailand)
5. Treasurer : Mrs Saiyood Uthaisri
(Thailand)
6. Assistant Treasurer : Mrs Basanti Devi
Bajracharya (Nepal)
Newly Appointed Positions:
Committee
members were elected to fill the positions.
Receptionist :
Assist. Prof. Kongkaew Charoenagsorn. (Thailand)
Public
Relations : Anita Svensson (Australia)
Publications : Dr.
Sritaptim Panitpan
a) Newsletter : Editor In Chief (four
issues per year)
b) Women’s roles in Buddhist Activities at
WFB Regional Centres booklet
Liaison Officers of each
regional centre :
1. Australia and New Zealand: Ms. Elizabeth
Oski; Mrs. Anita Svensson and Mrs Nhu Hoa.
2. Nepal : Mrs.
Basanti Devi Bajracharya
3. Sri Lanka : Taiwan : Mrs Hung Yi Shou
4. Thailand : Mrs Srinit Suvatipanich
Fundraising officer
: Mrs Panee Wattnanpong (Thailand)
Our Honorary Advisor :
H.E. Prof. Sanya Dharmasakti, former WFB President.
Our New
Advisors :
1. Mr. Phan Wannamethee
2. Mr. Sunao Miyabara
3. Dato’ Khoo Leong Hun
4. Khunying Suthama Auychai
5.
Lt. Gen. Chalom Wismol
6. Khunying Nongyao Chaiseri
7. Dr.
Ananda W.P. Guruge
A.S.