Shinawatra highlights women’s power as driving force for development


Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra hoped her visit to one of the world’s largest women’s universities would boost exchanges between her country and South Korea in enhancing women’s rights and education,

She also said that women were driving national development.

“Women’s power will bring a sustainable development to a country’s economy,” Shinawatra said in a lecture to Ewha Womans University students on Monday.

“I also hope that my visit to the university will revitalize exchanges between two countries in improving the rights and education for women,” she said.

Shinawatra praised Korea’s effort in enhancing women’s rights among Asian countries in light of Korea’s ranking in the gender inequality index of the U.N. Development Program in 2011.

“Korea’s 11th place indicates that the gender equality has to do with the development level of a country. And it shows how women have contributed to such development,” she said. 

“It also shows that women play a crucial role in national development, sometimes more than men do.”

Shinawatra then introduced the National Development Fund for Women set up in her country to promote women’s role and improve their quality of life.

“One of the reasons I entered politics is because I wanted to create opportunities for women to participate actively whether in business, politics or other fields,” she said.

“In this respect, we have set up the fund to help women in getting education, training for employment and to create more jobs for them and provide minimum living costs.”

The fund extends loans for women at low interest rates or without interest to assist them in overcoming hardships, according to the website of the Government Public Relations Department of Thailand.

The fund, which has attracted about 5 million donors so far, is expected to help women escape sexual discrimination, domestic violence and trafficking, according to Shinawatra.

Shinawatra said she asked for U.N. cooperation and knowhow in improving women’s quality of life at the bilateral meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Monday.

She said she also supported Every Woman Every Child, a U.N. campaign for women and children.

She briefly mentioned her motivation for becoming the first female leader of the country.

“I experienced ups and downs before I became prime minister, as a CEO of a company and politician. But I never gave up, but kept going forward. I know hardships women have to go through till they reach their success,” she said.

“You need a constant effort till you achieve your dream and grab a chance that will take you to the next level,” she noted.

Shinawatra, 45, is the youngest sister of the ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and was elected as the first female prime minister in July 2011.

She studied public administration at Kentucky State University for masters and pursued a business career as managing director of a telecommunications company her brother founded before she entered politics.

Her lecture was attended by 130 students, including 10 Thai students studying at Ewha, and Ewha President Kim Sun-Uk.

Senior Thai officials were also at the lecture, including Ambassador of Thailand to Korea Chaiyong Satjipanon and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul.

By Lee Woo-young  (wylee@heraldcorp.com)