K’nyaw Paw, with her father and brother at Mae Ra Ma Luang Refugee Camp.

K’nyaw Paw, a young woman from the Karen ethnic group of Burma, was only a child when she and her parents were forced to flee their home.  Since 1948, a brutal civil war has raged in Burma, with ethnic minorities such as the Karen subjected to violence and persecution.

K’nyaw Paw is one of approximately 110,000 Karen now living inside the seven refugee camps that run the length of the Thai-Burma border.  In the last twenty years, over one million people from ethnic areas in the east of Burma have fled their homes, either to enter Thailand or to live precariously as internally displaced people in isolated pockets of their homelands.  
For the past six years, K'nyaw Paw has worked on behalf of her people. On 8 March 2006 at 1.00 pm, she will speak about 'Women Taking Control of Their Lives', as part of International Women's Day Celebrations at Queen Victoria Women's Centre.

Motivated by ongoing stories of sexual violence against Karen women, K’nyaw Paw has become an inspirational and active member of her community. In 2000, K’nyaw Paw began working with the Karen Women’s Organisation (KWO), a community-based organisation of Karen women working in development and relief in the refugee camps on the Thai border.  

As part of her work with the KWO, K’nyaw Paw has been responsible for training both adult and youth groups in leadership and human rights, assisting in funding proposal and report writing, liasing with international sponsors, and translating for international guests. K’nyaw Paw is currently working as part of the KWO’s advocacy team, which involves participating in workshops, meetings and conferences, at both a local and international level in order to advocate on behalf of the women of Burma.
Throughout her work K’nyaw Paw is also closely involved with the Karen Young Women’s Leadership School, one of the few post year ten schooling opportunities for young women refugees on the Thai-Burma border. A project run by the KWO and supported by International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA), the school provides young Karen women with the skills and practical experience necessary to make a positive difference within their communities.
K’nyaw combines a rare mix of grassroots awareness – she sends prized candles back to her brothers in the refugee camp so they can study after dark – with an ability to network effectively on behalf of her people, as she has internationally at United Nations forums.

K'nyaw Paw is the 2006 International Women's Development Agency (IWDA) Ambassador. Her trip to Australia is supported by WIRE - Women's Information, the University of Melbourne, LaTrobe University and Victoria University.

For information about attending K'nyaw Paw's talk on International Women's Day, see our Events listings.