Udval Sonom, an amazing public figure, stateswoman, and state award-winning author of 20th Century Mongolia, led the Mongolian Women’s Federation for 25 years, bringing Mongolian women’s rights to what they are today.
With support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Mongolian Women’s Federation and U-film produced the film "The Red Flower". History shows us what was good and successful and where problems that have to be solved showed up. This film is primarily about gender equality. History shows us that when women and men are equally on board, sustainable development, economic growth, and poverty reduction for all are possible. Gender equality is also at the top of the Swiss policy agenda, as gender equality is still a priority in Switzerland and elsewhere. "The Red Flower" is also a film about an outstanding personality, Udval Sonom, a great woman, mother, popular writer, and politician who contributed significantly to Mongolia’s history. She is a role model for society.
The movie depicts her life story starting from childhood, as an orphan undergoing many problems and challenges, and her rise to pursuing higher education, becoming a renowned, beloved public figure and stateswoman, and giving up her personal life to devote her passion and energy to the advancement of society, especially girls, women, literature, and the arts. The movie also gives viewers a glimpse at history and what Mongolia was like back then.
Udval grew up in a small province and started her career as a writer when, at seven years old, she moved to Umnugobi Province to become a writer for the military and party committee. She then became the political party’s women’s organizer, Umnugobi Province’s newspaper editor, and the propaganda director of the political party’s main newspaper "Truth", editor- in-chief, the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party’s (MPRP) director of the Women’s Department of the Central Committee, head of the Central Council of the Mongolian Women’s Labor Union, head of the Central Council of the Mongolian National Women’s Federation, chief editor of Political Life newspaper, director of the Mongolian Women’s Committee, director of the Mongolian Writer’s Committee, head of the Committee of Veterans of the Revolutionary Struggle, the MPRP’s representative in Parliament, a member of MPRP’s Central Committee, a 10-time deputy of the Mongolian People’s Great Khural, and a 9-time member of the Presidium of the Mongolian People’s Great Khural.
She led the Mongolian Women’s Committee for 25 years and was the longest-lasting director of the organization. She represented Mongolian women during the fourth congress of the World Democratic Women’s Union and was appointed many times to serve as a council member of the organization.
She specifically opened a path to enable women to work and give them the right to higher education by creating the environment and system for it. She worked hard for the rights of working pregnant women and women with small children, including their right to receive vacations, discounts, and support. Udval fought for women’s leadership in higher positions, especially within the government and the public sector. She was a true role model and a great influencer through her actions, behavior, and care for others. Her work has not just influenced Mongolia but is also a true representation of women internationally.
The goal of this movie is to inspire the girls and women of today and give them the motivation to develop the country, understand history, strengthen their status in society, and become future role models for the next generation. More on Red Flower film
