Planning for the Women Seminar and Event for the 62Nd of ASSK S in Norway

Invitation to women’s seminar and event for the 62nd of Aung San Suu Kyi’s Birthday in Oslo, 18-19

We are Lway Dang Jar and Naw Khin San Htwe from Palaung Women’s Organization and Burmese Women’s Union, which are based in Thailand. Currently, we are doing our internship with the Norwegian Burma Committee (NBC) for three months (May-July 2007).

On the occasion of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s 62nd birthday on 19th of June the Norwegian Burma Committee plans a seminar on 18-19 of June for Burmese women in Norway. This is the first seminar for Burmese women organized by NBC. The aim is for you to meet, exchange experiences, and to introduce you to the women’s movement among Burmese women, other immigrant groups and in Norway.

We hope to mobilize and inspire Burmese women in Norway to become more active in politics and women’s issues either through forming their own network or participating in existing women’s groups and networks in Norway.

Women’s seminar in Oslo 18 th to 19 th June 2007: Women can do it!

18th June from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm

 Short introduction by all participants  “My past and our future” Presentation of background, political work, and future hopes and plans for oneself and Burmese women (voluntarily)  Lunch break  “Women can do it” workshop by Inger Lise Husøy, Director of the Norwegian Burma Committee  Women’s party in the evening

19th June from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm

 Networking and exchange between Burmese women and women’s organizations and activists in Norway. Proposed guests: International League for Peace and Freedom (IKFF), Center for Gender Equality, MiRA Center (resource center for immigrant and refugee women)and one other women immigrant organization and the Christian Democratic party’s Women’s Group (KrFK).

 Presentations, group work and discussions  Lunch break  Discussion and follow-up plans Demonstration/public event at 19 th June 2007 from 3:30 or 4:00 pm

 To demand the release of ASSK and all the political prisoner by showing their picture, name and age

Women seminar in Bergen 20 th June from round 12:00 am to 4:00 pm  Bergen is the second biggest city in Norway. Workshop will be organized together with Rafto (the human rights house in Bergen), and Burmese women in Bergen.  Program will be similar as on day 2 in Oslo.

NBC offers assistance in regard to

 Transport cost for cheapest available alternative.  Accomodation for those who are too far from home and do not have private accomodation  Help with permission to leave from work or school.

Please let us know if you need any of these arrangements. It is especially important that we contact work place or school as soon as possible.

If any of you will have a problem to participate at the seminar due to care of children, please let us know if it would be possible for you to bring the children if there is a play room with baby sitter for them during the seminar. We will try to arrange for this if needed.

For more information, please contact:

Lway Dang Jar Naw Khin San Htwe Palaung Women’s Organization Burmese Women’s Union Moblie: 45 66 45 84 Mobile: 95 46 69 04 E- Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected]