Overseas Mon community

AMERICAN MON WOMEN ORGANIZE

(Kao Wao, December 1, 2003)

Mon women in the United States of America recently founded the Mon Women Organization of USA, on November 16, 2003.

35 Mon women gathered at a newly built Mon Buddhist Temple in Fort Wayne, Indiana electing (11) central committee members to lead a newly formed Mon women organization in the USA.

"Improving the patriotic spirit, culture and literature among the Mon nationals in the USA is our primary aim", said Mi Jarai Mon, chairwoman of the Mon Women Organization. She also said they will strive for gender equality and women's rights as stated by international and United Nations' principles to eliminate discrimination against women. For future activities, the MWO (USA) will launch networking strategies with Mon women organizations and communities around the world.

Women fourteen and over can apply for membership and those eighteen and above can vote and be nominated into the leading committee. The committee is responsible for implementing activities freely without affiliation with any other organization. The women expressed a great responsibility in participating in the struggle for freedom and were pleased with the high turn out of women willing to work together, they will begin capacity building among their members before starting other activities.

Over 200 Mon people are now residing in Fort Wayne and more than 80 have settled in other states including Minnesota, Ohio, North Carolina and New York.