About 1,700 Buddhist dignitaries and nuns from around the world will attend the 16th International Conference on Buddhist Women in HCM City from December 28, 2009 to January 3, 2010.

The event will be hosted by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) with support from the Vietnamese Government and the International Association of Buddhist Women (Sakyadhita).

Chief nun Thich Nu Tinh Hanh, who is in charge of nun affairs at the VSB, says more than 300 delegates from 47 countries and territories have registered to take part in the event.

She says the conference will review Buddhist achievements and contributions by nuns, promote friendship and encourage delegates to share experiences and put forward new ideas. It will look at the leadership role of female Buddhist organisations in reducing poverty, preventing violence and protecting the environment.

Sakyadhita members will make their commitment to providing assistance to Buddhist women, social activists and community organisations, especially in studies and book publishing.

On the theme of Eminent Buddhist Women, the conference will honour dignitaries and nuns for their contributions to spreading Buddha’s dogma and engaging in social affairs.

There will be 13 topics and 18 sub-topics to be discussed at the conference, focusing on Buddhist women’s role in preventing conflicts and violence, promoting dialogues among cultures and building peace around the world.

The conference, which takes place every two years, has been held in 10 countries since 1987.

VNN/VOV