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Organization: Tibetan Women’s Association
The following information may be cited or quoted as long as the source is accurately mentioned and the words are not taken out of context.
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Postal address of organization/institution

Tibetan Women's Association
Bhagsu Nag Road
P.O. Mcleod Ganj
Dharamsala 176219
Distt. Kangra
India

E-mail address of organization/institution

tibwomen@gmail.com

Website address of organization/institution

www.tibetanwomen.org

Telephone of organization/institution

00-91-1892-221704

PRIORITIES: All of the organization's domains of culture of peace activity


TOP PRIORITY: The organization's most important culture of peace activity


PARTNERSHIPS AND NETWORKS: What partnerships and networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the global movement for a culture of peace?

The Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) is a member of International organizations and networks that works towards achieving global peace through integrated actions and solidarity actions.
TWA is the steering committee member of the International Tibet Support Network (ITSN). The International Tibet Support Network is a global coalition of Tibet-related non-governmental organisations. Its purpose is to maximise the effectiveness of the worldwide Tibet movement. The Network works to increase the capacity of individual member organisations, develops coordinated strategic campaigns, and encourages increased cooperation among organisations, thereby strengthening the Tibet movement as a whole. Network members are committed to non-violence as a fundamental principle of the Tibetan struggle.
TWA is also a member of Gender and Climate Change (GCC), Asia Pacific Women’s Law and Development (APWLD) and the Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR).
TWA is a member of the International Women's Development Agency (IWDA), an Australian non-profit organisation that creates positive change for women and their communities. For 25 years, IWDA’s practical and rights-based projects directly address poverty and oppression in developing countries. TWA’s president participated in the ‘Asia Pacific Breakthrough: The Women, Faith and Development Summit to End Global Poverty’ held in Melbourne in early December 2009.

ACTIONS: What activities have been undertaken by your organization to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence during the ten years of the Decade? If you already made a report in 2005, your information from 2005 will be included in the 2010 report.

The Tibetan Women's Association (TWA) was originally founded onMarch 12, 1959 in Tibet.On this day, thousands of Tibetan women in Lhasa gathered together to protestagainst the illegal occupation of Tibet by Communist China. Protesting peacefully outside the Potala Palace, many of these women suffered brutally at the hands of the Chinese troops. They were arrested, imprisoned, tortured and beaten without trial.

A period of transition for TWA followed this uprising when many Tibetan women were forced to flee Tibet to live in exile in India. From 1959 to 1984 many Tibetan women's groups were established in India, such as in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Dharamsala, and Rajpur. Some of these groups initiated handicraft centers for women in their localities. These handicraft centers helped not only to preserve the arts and crafts of Tibet, but also imparted skills to Tibetan women so that they can earn their livelihood during the early refugee life.




On the 10th of Septemeber 1984, with the blessings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Women's Association was officially reinstated with 12 branches throughout India. Today, the TWA has over 13,000 members and 47 branches worldwide including branches in: India, Nepal, Europe, Japan, the United States of America and Canada. TWA sees itself as the natural continuation of our many brave sisters who sacrificed their lives for the freedom and protection of Tibet.

TWA's main objective is to raise public awareness of the abuses faced by Tibetan women in Chinese-occupied Tibet. Through extensive publicity and involvement in national and international affairs, TWA alerts communities to the gender-specific human rights abuses committed against Tibetan women in the form of forced birth control policies such as sterilizations and abortions, and restrictions on religious, political, social and cultural freedoms.

In exile, TWA places great priority on the contributions of Tibetan women towards the preservation and promotion of the distinct religion, culture and identity of the Tibetan people. TWA serves the Tibetan community as a whole with activities addressing religious and cultural issues, educational needs, social welfare, the environment and the political participation and social empowerment of women.

To best achieve our goals, TWA functions as a democratic organization. The members of the Central as well as the Regional Working Committees are elected by their respective members for a fixed term. The headquarters of TWA is in McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, and it is from here that TWA issues guidelines and directives to the branch offices for the coordination of their activities.

• To raise global awareness of the critical situation inside Tibet, and to exert international pressure for the improvement of Human Rights conditions for Tibetans living in occupied Tibet.

• Social, political and economic empowerment of women in exile.

• Addressing the drastic human rights abuses committed against Tibetan women in Tibet including rape, physical violence, and the denial of fundamental reproductive, religious and political freedoms.

• To ensure Tibetan women have access to adequate educational information about health care, childcare and family planning.

• Preservation and promotion of Tibetan culture, language, tradition and the arts through community education, literacy and publications.

• Assisting the needy in the community through sponsorship programs that help to support economically disadvantaged families, single parents, children, nuns, the handicapped, the sick and the elderly.

• To join hands with the women of the world to promote peace and justice for all.

PROGRESS: Has your organization seen progress toward a culture of peace and nonviolence in your domain of action and in your constituency during the second half of the Decade?

Yes. Our organization is 51 years old and right from the very beginning, we have followed the non violent path under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and we have consistently striven hard to create a culture of peace and justice for all women in the world

OBSTACLES: Has your organization faced any obstacles to implementing the culture of peace and nonviolence? If so, what were they?

Yes, we have faced difficulties in implementing the culture of peace and non violence purely because, of the Chinese government’s unwillingness to solve the Tibet crises
and the continued violation of women’s rights inside Tibet

PLANS: What new engagements are planned by your organization in the short, medium and long term to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence?

TWA is committed to engaging in social and political activities to accomplish human rights for Tibetans inside of Tibet, Environmental justice for the world, and to promote a culture of peace and non violence. The engagements will be strengthening the peaceful  movement at the grassroots through cultural presevation, promotion of buddhism and in bulding on our international relations with organizations that works towards global peace.

GLOBAL MOVEMENT: How do you think the culture of peace and nonviolence could be strengthened and supported at the world level??

TWA believes in the importance of integrating the grass-roots/local/national struggle for peace with the global struggle for world peace and thus create a combined and a collective struggle for peace. Creating a global culture of peace and empowering people to embrace the culture will prove beneficial.
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Organization: Tibetan Women’s Association

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