Thailand - Woman strong symbol for non-violence, says Thai PM

Davos (the Nation/ANN) - Woman can be a strong symbol for non-violence and will play a role in bringing political reconciliation in Thailand, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra told a gathering at the World Economic Forum.

The prime minister cited Burmese opposition leader Ang San Suu Kyi, who she recently met during an official visit to Burma, with a passion on democracy and a global non-violence symbol.

The Thai prime minister's vision of women in society and their role is in contract to Facebook's CEO, Sheryl Sandberg, who calls for closer ambition gap between men and women. She said parents donot usually raise their daughters to be ambition; female equality may have improved at work but not at home; and successful men are better liked while successful females are less liked.

Both were in the WEF's session on "Women as the Way Forward along with Desmond Tutu, the South African archbishop; Michelle Bachelet from United Nation Women; and Al Zain Talal, CEO of Bahrain Mumtalakat. The session was moderated by Kristof Nicholas from the New York Times.

Yingluck took the podium to deliver an opening remark in Thai with simultaneous translation but answered questions from the floor in English. She underscored the importance of education and access to finance for women when asked by a Korean audience on her policy to stop sex tourism to Thailand.

"No women will want to hurt themselves - if we give them opportunity to better themselves," Yingluck said.

In her opening remark, the Thai prime minister said as a woman she was proud to be Thai as she had a chance to receive education, run a company and become the first female primier.

She called for a goal to end women inequity and violence in society. She added that women have positive aspects which can better the society - such as attention to details and good understanding and attention to children and the youth. Women also have ability to save, and have higher finance contribution to family raising.

Yingluck told the hundreds of WEF international audience that her government has set up a fund to support women and to promote universal education for girls.

Tutu said support for women in society is such an obvious undertaking given all positive attributes they render for the society. It is a solution to the world's problems. Women, he added, has compassion, gentleness and caring.

Yingluck said women when have a chance to become leaders and make positive contributions to society.

She also invited the WEF members to attend the Bangkok meeting which will take place May 31-June 1 in Bangkok. The prime minister on Friday night hosted a Thai night for WEF participants.

Pana Janviroj in Davos/The Nation | Asia News Network

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