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Tibetan Women’s Association elects new leadership

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Tenzin Dolma from Bylakuppe is elected as the new president of Tibetan Women's Association on Friday (Phayul Photo- Kunsang Gashon)

By Choekyi Lhamo                                                                                      

DHARAMSHALA, Apr. 16: The Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) elected its 16th Executive team for the three-year term from 2021-2024 on Friday, following the three-day 13th General Body Meeting. Two representatives from 18 chapters participated in the annual meet, whereas members from 23 chapters could not participate in the meeting due to the resurgence of Covid-19 virus in India.

The Dharamshala-based TWA Central elected Tenzin Dolma from Bylakuppe as the new president of the association; Tsering Dolma as the new Vice-President; Kalsang Dolma as the General Secretary; and team members Dolma Tsering, Tamdin Dolma, Lhamo Choezom, and Namgyal Dolkar for the new executive team. The newly elected President in her first press address said, “I did not expect to be elected as the TWA President as I had requested the participants to not vote for me. I have worked for 13 years from 2008 to 2021 in this organization and I initially hoped to take leave from office but my new term starts now.

“For us to triumph, it is most important for all of us from each settlement to work together. There is nothing much to be said about the future work as of now, because we are yet to take the first step towards initiation.”

The three-day meeting held at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) had a nine-point resolution for the next term. It deliberated on the need to work on the legacy of the exiled leader Dalai Lama and for more initiatives for the Panchen Lama that is held by China. The participants also vowed to work on the Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day on March 12 which is commemorative of all the women who sacrificed their lives for the Tibetan movement.

It further stressed on the need to preserve Tibetan language and culture, along with rigorous campaigns for environmental preservation and to encourage women to have more kids, keeping in view the decreasing rate of Tibetans in exile. The resolution strongly supported the Middle Way Approach, the official stance of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), and also promised to campaign against the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in view of the deteriorating human rights violation in Tibet.

The Tibetan Women’s Association was first officially established on Sept. 10, 1984 with 12 chapters throughout India. The TWA now has over 16,000 members and 57 branches worldwide including branches in India, Nepal, Europe, Japan, Australia, Switzerland, USA and Canada. 

4 Responses

  1. Congratulation and thanking you for accepting the responsibility. I hope and pray that Chinese Government is feared and serious about your leadership. I just wish you the best and may you brings hope and happiness for Tibetans in Tibet.

  2. Congratulations. We wish you & TWA a great success under your leaderships. You earned your position as an ardent member for many years. Thanks

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