With a secure organization team in place and good relations with the United Nations, the strategy of the Outstanding Women in Buddhism Awards movement was to link the human rights of women and religious freedom to concepts of Democracy.

Thus, the committee awarded Thai Democracy pioneer Than Phuying Poonsuk Panomyong and Myanmar’s Democracy pioneer, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

In addition, the committee wanted to support the Sri Lankan Bhikkhuni movement and showcase it to Thais, and thus awarded Democracy pioneer, Her Excellency President Chandrika Kumaratungka of Sri Lanka.

Again, awardees from across the globe attended with meritorious accomplishments.

Bhikkhuni Dr. Lee led the gathering of 1,000+ from the podium and Dr. Tavivat Puntarigvivat again coordinated the VIPs at the venue of the United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok, Thailand.

In the year 2003, Venerable Bhikkhuni Rattanavali and Venerable Bhikkhuni Dr. Lee were working as Buddhist Research Scholars at the World Buddhist University located at the World Fellowship of Buddhists, under the guidance of Buddhist Scholar Dr. Tavivat Puntarigvivat. The nuns were living with Most Venerable Bhikkhuni Kuang Seng of Kwan Yin Temple, Chok Chai 4, Bangkok.

In this creative atmosphere, the Buddhist nuns began to strategize for OWBA 2004 with the world-renowned Thai Bhikkhu, Dr. Mettanando. Thus, several meetings were held between the above mentioned, including with advice from Dr. Suteera Vichitranonda, Director of the Gender and Development Institute and Dr. Kornvipa Boonsue coordinator of Thailand UNIFEM.

Thus, we approached Maha Upasika Bongkut of Kanchanaburi and the Ambassador of Switzerland. As religious freedom for women is a human right, the Swiss Embassy coordinated with us and His Excellency Ambassador Rodolphe Imhoof presided. Bhikkhuni Dr. Lee led the gathering of 1,000+ from the podium and Dr. Tavivat Puntarigvivat coordinated the VIPs at the venue of the United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Buddhist women honored came from around the world, and a powerful organizing team was securely established.

In 2003, the event again occurred at the Association for the Promotion of the Status of Women (APSW) in Don Muang, Thailand. Upon the advice of Dr. Suteera Vichitranonda, Director of the Gender and Development Institute, funded by UNIFEM, and located at the (APSW), we worked to create a basic framework for the OWBA movement by honoring the work of Thai Senator Rapiabrat, Bangkok Post Editor – Sanitsuda Ekachai, Thailand’s UNIFEM Coordinator Dr. Kornvipa Boonsue. This established a secure Thai basis. Then we also honored 2 Sri Lankan Bhikkhunis, in order to expose Thailand to the emergence of Theravada Bhikkhunis. We included honoring Bhikkhuni Ampika, Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Bangkok and Japanese Dr. Tomomi Ito, a Buddhist scholar, who focuses on Thai Buddhism and the Bhikkhuni movement; thus, we established a reputable international framework. Each woman honored lived and worked a noble and brave life contributing as Buddhists to other women.

The Outstanding Women in Buddhism Awards were first held at the Association for the Promotion of the Status of Women (APSW) in Don Muang, Thailand. Both Bhikkhuni Rattanavali and Bhikkhuni Dr. Lee are students of the Most Venerable Maechee Khunying Kanitha Wichiencharoen, who established the APSW.

Dr. Suteera Vichitranonda, was also the student of Most Venerable Maechee Khunying Kanitha Wichiencharoen, and Director of the Gender & Development Research Institute located at the APSW. This Institute, funded by the United Nations’ Development Fund for Women, coached, counseled, advised, strategized how to create OWBA and mainstream Theravada Bhikkhunis into Thai society and southeast Asia.

So, in 2002, the event was held at the APSW, and our teacher, Most Venerable Maechee Khunying Kanitha was honored for creating the APSW, which was the first shelter for women and children in southeast Asia.