PM discusses women's role with UN chief

Yingluck said that the development of women’s roles is one of her urgent policies and that she brought it to Parliament when her government took office last year, according to Thai News Agency.

She said the Thai government was determined the address women’s problems and boost equality between men and women.

A fund to develop women’s roles was set up to prevent infringement on women's rights and to bolster their participation in the country's development. The government has policies to revise the law, increasing protection for women from domestic violence and to give them more opportunities to access education, scholarships and public health facilities in order to ensure their security and an improved quality of life.

The government also supports the establishment of daycare centres in workplaces and upgrading of shelters for children and women who are victims of domestic violence.

The UN chief praised the first female Thai prime minister, saying the UN also gave importance to improving the roles of women and underprivileged children. It had set up the “Every Women, Every Child” project and also created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.

UN Women has opened an office in Bangkok to empower women and underprivileged children in Asia and Southeast Asia.

Yingluck said this would be a good opportunity for the Thai government and UN Women to cooperate in accelerating and improving women’s roles in Thailand and in the region, as well as to exchange relevant information in the future.

After the meeting with UN chief, Yingluck had a working dinner with Sohn Kyung-shik, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Eui Kyun Su, Chairman of Dong-Ah Eleccomm Company at the Lotte Hotel, as well as holding discussion about trade between Thailand and South Korea.

Yingluck was scheduled to give a keynote speech at a discussion forum between Thai and South Korean businesspeople during a luncheon at Crystal Ballroom organised by BOI and the Federation of Korean Industries on Monday.