WHERE SHALL WE BEGIN : LIMITATIONS ON MENSTRUAL KNOWLEDGE AND AFFORDABLE PRODUCTS

Ei Thant Sin

(Project Coordinator of Myanmar Independent Living Initiative, Taunggyi)

Ei Thant Sin is working on empowerment activities related to people with disabilities and she actively participates in youth and disability issues.

She has been working as a Project Coordinator at Myanmar Independent Living Initiative (MILI), Taunggyi Branch with responsibility for supporting disabled people from Shan State. She is in charge of initiating training and workshops related to education, economy, politics and laws. She is a young disabled person who is constantly working to ensure that people with disabilities can participate equally in the community.

In the process of youth affairs in the youth affairs committee, as a youth representative in the Shan State Youth Committee, she discussed the inclusion of disabled people in the strategic plans of the youth policy. During 2018-2020, she was Youth Representative for Strategic Planning and Youth Policy at Shan State Youth Committee. From 2019 to 2022, she worked as a Project Manager at Than Di Eain Organization for projects related to diversity and freedom of religions and beliefs (FORB).

Naw K’nyaw Paw

(Chairperson of Karen Women’s Organization)

Naw K’nyaw Paw, a Karen woman and refugee, is KWO Chairperson. She was elected into this position in July 2023. Prior to this she was the General Secretary of Karen Women’s Organization for ten years, an organization with over 70,000 members. Naw K’nyaw Paw is responsible for leading all KWO work. KWO is a feminist, indigenous rights, community-based women’s organization that plays a leadership role in the struggle to bring democracy and respect for human rights to Burma. It focuses on capacity building, increasing and amplifying women’s voices and influence, as well as providing services to women and children.

Naw K’nyaw Paw has been working with the KWO since 1999 after completing her education in Mae Ra Moe refugee camp in Thailand. She was born on the Thai-Burma border and became a refugee at the age of 11. In 2021 she received The Ginetta Sagan Award from Amnesty International, which recognizes women working to protect the liberty and lives of women and children in areas where human rights violations are widespread. In 2019 she received the International Women of Courage Award from the US Department of State. She received the P’doh Mahn Sha Young Leader Award in 2013 and has received several of the KWO’s own Awards recognizing the achievements and service of women in the community.

She is a women’s rights activist and has been working for gender justice, social justice, human rights, democracy, child protection and community ownership for more than 20 years. She has traveled to speak at the United Nations and advocated for women, refugees, Internally Displaced Persons, as well as on the main issues impacting Burma.