Today  (9 August 2012) at 14.30 hrs., Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra presided over and gave a special lecture named “Creative Power to Sustainable Future” on the occasion of Thai Women Day, 1 August 2012 organized by the National Council of Women of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty the Queen in cooperation with the Office of  Women’s Affairs and Family Development, the Ministry of Human Security and Social Development. The participants consisted of Mr. Santi Phromphat, Minister of Human Security and Social Development, Khunying Natthika Wattanavekin Angubolkul, President of the National Council of Women of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty the Queen, Advisor to the National Council of Women of Thailand, executives of the Ministry of Human Security and Social Development, Thai Women Day Organizing Committee, President of Association, concerned officials and media.

The President of the National Council of Women of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty the Queen gave a report that the National Council of Women of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty the Queen is the private women organization having the biggest network in Thailand with the role as a coordination center for member organizations. The objective is to promote and support the work of women organizations and exchange point of view among Thai and international women organizations in order to upgrade the status and capabilities of Thai women. It was founded on September 9, 1956 by the leading of Than Phuying La-iad Phibulsongkram, allowed to use the Manangkhasila House as the office. In 1962, it was received under the Royal Patronage by His Majesty Queen Sirikit, having the Board of Directors which has been working, building the fame, dedication and security to the National Council of Women of Thailand to be accepted in the national and international arena. At present, the National Council of Women of Thailand reached the 56th anniversary of its establishment under the administration of the 23th Board of Directors with more than 230 member organizations covering every province in the country and one European Thai Women Network.

The National Council of Women of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty the Queen had been the main agency who organized the Thai Women Day since its foundation in 1956 up to the present, having both government and private network. The activities of Thai Women Day in 2012 was under the framework of Her Majesty the Queen’s speech on the four roles of Thai women namely “ 10th Year Anniversary of Thai Women Day : Complete Mother’s Role, Be a Good Housewife, Maintain Thai Women’s Identity and Self-Training”. The National Council of Women of Thailand in cooperation with all of its network from government sector, private sector, hundreds of business entities and member organizations all over the country and in the European Region jointly organized the activities in honour of Her Majesty the Queen and in celebration of the 10th Year Anniversary of Thai Women Day on 1st August. H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously presided over the opening ceremony on behalf of  Her Majesty Queen Sirikit and awarded the honour plaques to the outstanding Thai women.

The Prime Minister said that Her Majesty Queen Sirikit is the role model of Thai women, having the major role in developing and promoting women status. Her Majesty the Queen’s work covered many aspects : education, religion, culture and arts, public health and medical science, foreign affairs, including environmental conservation, especially quality of life promotion and well being of Thai women in order to create benefit to family and the society. Her Majesty the Queen also revitalized and supported the handicrafts work as the local knowledge for women in rural area who are free from doing paddy, crop farming to help increasing their income, including giving the assistance to vulnerable Thai women.

In the government part, total nine activities were organized on 8 August 2012 on the auspicious occasion of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s 80th Birthday Anniversary on 12 August 2012. The first activity was “People Planting 800 Million Trees Project in Celebration of 80th Birthday Anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen”. People were encouraged to plant trees and take care of forest all over the country to increase the forest area to absorb more water and prevent the natural disaster. The second activity was the exhibition divided into 4 parts

The Prime Minister mentioned about the establishment of the Fund for Developing Women Role that it was the government’s policy to give an importance for Thai women development in all aspects. The government was ready to work with the National Council of Women of Thailand and every women organization to move women power with more development and advancement, especially the upgrade of quality of life and social inequality.

The Prime Minister also said that the government brought the initiative of Her Majesty the Queen to make the five strategies for developing women role namely strategy one : To build good thinking and acceptance the gender equality, strategy two : To develop potential and increase social and economic opportunity of Thai women, strategy three : To develop the happiness stage of quality of life and build life security, strategy four : To develop women potential to increase the opportunity for political, administrative participation and decision making at various level, strategy five : To build and support all level of women organizations to have potential. These were used as the principle for the work of the Fund for Developing Women Role which would be emphasized on the access to financing for women to develop the occupation, especially people living in the community in various provinces leading to the mechanism for establishment of the fund for developing women at the community level, at home and at the provincial level. Since 31 July 2012, the first installment amounting 20 million baht was sent to the Fund for Developing Women Role in every province.

After that, the Prime Minister gave an interview about the role of Thai women and commended the work of the National Council of Women of Thailand who continuously organized many activities benefit to Thai women since the past until the present. The government was ready to work with the National Council of Women of Thailand to make Thai women have more knowledge and capability and encourage Thai women at all level to be leaders both in the country and international level to step forward to the ASEAN Community.