The Women's Desk was formed following the 6th Plenary Assembly in Manila in 1995.
The issue of women was first raised in the 4th plenary assembly in Tokyo in 1986.
In November 1993 a Consultation on Women was held at Petaling Jaya, Malaysia on the
theme "Realities and Experiences of Women in Asia". The consultation recommended
an Asian level conference, as well as inviting women for the 6th FABC Plenary Assembly
and a sub-topic on women be included in the Assembly discussions. In the 1995 statement
of the 6th FABC Plenary Assembly the Bishops declared: "An urgent pastoral imperative
is for women to exercise their right to co-responsibility and mutuality with men in
society and in the Church." In response to the 1993 consultation and the statement
of the 6th Plenary Assembly of FABC, BILA I on Women was held in Pattaya, Thailand
in November 1995 on the theme "Role of Women in Church and Society, Toward 2000",
followed by BILA on Women II also in Pattaya, Thailand in October, 1998 on the theme,
"Discipleship of Women - A Service to Life."
As a follow up and implementation of recommendations from these meetings/consultation,
to discover and develop women's spirituality and theology, a BILA on Women III is on the
theme "Women's God Experiences Rooted in Life". The meeting is scheduled for October,
2001 in Hua Hin, Thailand.
