The 11th Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women (SICBW) has closed in HCM City after a week of discussions on the role of Buddhist women. 57 reports presented by international and Vietnamese delegates focused on the status, the impact and the contributions made by Buddhist women around the world to social activities, particularly education and culture.

In a 15-point joint statement, more than 2,000 Vietnamese and overseas Buddhist women said they would continue with their efforts to fulfill the UN’s millennium development goals of poverty reduction, educational development, promotion of gender equality and women’s rights, HIV/AIDS prevention, environmental protection and global cooperation for development.

The conference called on Buddhist women from all over the world to promote peace, and solidarity towards a just, democratic and civilsed society on the basis of respecting the traditional culture of each nation and the International community to support Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims.

On the occasion, the participants thanked the Vietnamese Government and local administrations for showing their goodwill and recognising their religious activities.

The 12^th  SICBW will be held in Singapore.