Bandar Seri Begawan - The Council of Women of Brunei Darussalam (CWBD), as a leading national body for women's association in the country, yesterday held its 12th Annual General Meeting (AGM). The meeting 'took place at the Di-Gadong Hall, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports building.

There are currently 13 women's association affiliated under CWBD namely Pertiwi, Bistari, The Brunei Darussalam Girl Guide's Association, Women's International Club (IWC), Bakti and Bakanita.

The President of CWBD, Pengiran Datin Paduka Hajah Mariam binti Pengiran Haji Matarsat, in her opening speech at the AGM meeting, said that CWBD has successfully implemented a variety of programmes and activities for session 2010 up to 2012, which included attending seminars and meetings that were participated by the president and its members, be it at the national level or working committee level.

"In moving forward, CWBD has also sought to establish a Counselling Unit with the objective to help deal with problems of domestic violence through counselling and advisory services aimed primarily to help women in the country.

"Additionally, CWBD also took the initiative in holding the Asean Women's Day, which is celebrated every July 5 since 2010. Among the programmes that have been organised to celebrate the day were Programmes in Tackling against Women's Violence, as well as seminars, workshops and awareness programmes," she said.

She then added that during April this year, some 36 members from the CWBD administration boards and association representatives affiliated under CWBD had attended a strategic planning workshop. From the workshop, the women learned to develop its mission, vision and five-year strategic planning to help the implementation and act as medium of guidance for CWBD in navigating the body

"In performing their social-responsibility, especially in charitable causes, CWBD has also contributed in terms of monetary donations to the victims of tsunami and earthquakes in Japan, the orphanage funds and Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam in Kampong Bengkurong.

"At regional and international level, CWBD has been a member of several organisations including Asean Confederation of Women Organisation, Asean Committee on Women, and Regional Consultation on Asean Human Rights Declaration," she added.

The AGM meeting also covered several agendas including reviewing and passing of the CWBD 11th AGM meeting minutes, reports from honorary-secretary of 2010-2012 session, reports from honorary-treasurer for session 2010-2012, dissolution of CWBD executive board, and voting for CWBD new executive board for session 2012-2014.

Since the formation of CWBD in November 1984, it has become one of leading national body in representing the ideas, opinion and views of women in the country.