KWWA Presented its 60 Policy Tasks to Presidential Candidates

 

‘Rice represents public sentiments’: the performance of a dish made with all five grains was given

 

On both November 14^th and 15^th 2007, the Korean Women’s Associations United (KWWA) organized to presidential candidates, 60 policy tasks presenting ceremonies, under the title of ‘Rice represents public sentiments.’

 

Almost throughout this year, KWWA had discussed and formulated agendas with its 6 branch organizations and 29 member organizations. Under the slogan ‘Let’s work together and take care together,’ selected are as 4 key tasks, tCreating good jobs through expanding public-spirited social services tincreasing supports for encouraging single parent families’ independence texpanding child care and support after school, and tinstituting gender-sensitive education on peace and human rights.

 

KWWA presented the selected 60 policy tasks to each presidential candidate through the performance of a dish made with all five grains (rice, millet, beans, wheat, and barnyard millet) entitled ‘Rice represents public sentiments.’ The first policy tasks presenting ceremony were prepared for Moon Kuk-hyun, Creative Korea Party’s presidential candidate on November 14^th 2007, and Jung Dong-young, United Democratic Party’s candidate and Kwon Young Gil, Democratic Labor Party’s candidate on November 15^th 2007, respectively.

 

Rice symbolizing public sentiment and a dish made with all five grains symbolizing longevity, health, prosperity of offspring, and abundant livelihood stand for good jobs and various social support systems. At the same time when KWWA conveyed the 60 policy tasks along with the dish made with all five grains, the candidates promised to KWWA that good care of the livelihood of the people, women, and economy for the masses should be taken like warm rice in the era of socioeconomic polarization.

 

On November 14^th 2007, at the ceremony KWWA’s policy tasks were given to Moon Kuk-hyun, Creative Korea Party’s presidential candidate. He stressed “About 60 trillion Won are created as black money and slush funds from the industry of civil engineering and construction. Out of the back money, if only 20 trillion Won are used for child care and welfare for children Korea can be a World’ top welfare country as livable as European countries.” Additionally, a Creative Korea Party’s policy kit for women ‘Women are hope’ was given to KWWA at the ceremony.

 

On November 15^th 2007, many congresswomen working in the election preparation committee for the gender equality attended the ceremony organized for Jung Dong-young, United Democratic Party’s candidate. Namhee Park, chairperson of the Korean Women's Trade Union (KWTU) underlined the importance of good jobs for women, mentioning “70% of Korean working women are irregular workers,” when giving the agendas to the candidate. Jang Myung-sook, a chairperson of the Differently Abled Women United claimed “The average academic attainment of disabled women is elementary school graduation. Policies for poor women should vary by life circle.” Jung Dong-young gave his opinion on women’s policies saying “The amount of 9 trillion Won from the budget is needed if the government takes social responsibility for pregnancy, child delivery, and childcare. My fundamental principal is to back up investment on people. The essence of the investment on people is that the state should take care of pregnancy, child delivery, and childcare.”

 

Additionally, on November 15^th 2007, at the ceremony KWWA’s policy tasks were presented to Kwon  Young Gil , Democratic Labor Party’s candidate. Meehyuk Kwon, a co-chairperson of the Korean Womenlink emphasized “I hope the agendas for women will not be given in to other tasks. I hope the agendas for women can be realized.”

 

Participants in the ceremonies had a heart-stirring time on the two days in a row, awakening the importance of policies for women to the presidential candidates. The candidates also showed their wills to reflect and implement the policy tasks developed by KWWA.

 

However, although KWWA asked for his arrangement several times, Lee Myoung Bak, Grand National Party’s presidential candidate did not set up a schedule for KWWA’s policy tasks-presenting ceremony.

 

Written by Han-Whang  Joo Yeon , KWWA