The History of the World Fellowship of Buddhist Standing Committee on Women
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 2001-2002 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