The Women’s League of Burma (WLB) 25th anniversary was held in Chiang Mai, Thailand on Dec. 9. At the event, the WLB member organizations performed their respective traditional ethnic dances. The nine principles of WLB’s political declaration, which includes women’s participation and gender equality as cornerstones in Myanmar’s return to democracy, were shared with all attendees.

“These nine principles are intended to support the construction of a future federal democratic union and to achieve genuine common ground among political forces,” said Nang Moet Moet, the WLB general secretary.

The WLB was established on Dec. 9, 1999 with the aim of increasing the participation of women in the struggle for democracy and human rights. It promotes women’s participation in Myanmar’s political and peace processes, while focusing on ending systematic sexual violence in ethnic nationality homelands. WLB enhances the role of the women from Myanmar at the national and international level.