Documentary brings Myanmar women out of the shadows

Funded by a Dutch non-government organization and produced by theChiang Mai-based women's empowerment group, the We women foundation, the documentary features seven Myanmar women and their diverse lives.

Despite their differences, the documentary shows how they areunited in striving to address women's and human rights issues, We women foundation manager, Cindy Wilkinson told Mizzima in an email interview.

"We decided to make the documentary because we were aware of the many women working against the odds inside [Myanmar] who never receive attention outside," Ms Wilkinson said.

Ma Kay Thi Win, one of the women featured in the documentary, is the founder of the Aids Myanmar Association and the Network of Sex Workers and chairperson of the Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers. Photo: We women foundation

"We then chose seven women based on a broad spread of ethnic, educational and life experience backgrounds and the type of work they are doing," she said.

They include PyithuHluttaw MP Nang Wah Nu (Konheim Township, Shan Nationalities Democratic Party), one of the few women and ethnic minority representatives to be elected to parliament.

Also featured in the documentary are Ma Kay Thi Win, the founder of both the Aids Myanmar Association and the Network of Sex Workers and the chair of the Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers, and a Yangon librarian, Ma Khin Hnin Kyi Thar, who launched an organization in Pakokku Township, Magway Region, that helps the poor and is treasurer of the Storyteller's Group, which seeks to preserve the culture of storytelling for future generations.

The documentary will premiere in Chiang Mai on March 14.

Asked why the documentary was being launched in Thailand rather than Myanmar, Ms Wilkinson said one reason was because the foundation is based in Chiang Mai.

"As this is an awareness raising activity we wanted to present the documentary to an international audience from the start. This is very easy for us to do in Chiang Mai," she said.

Ms Wilkinson said the foundation planned to release the documentary in the Netherlands and Myanmar as soon as possible.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2014/02/28/documentary-brings-myanmar-women-out-of-the-shadows/