By Nicole Murphy "Herald Sun" (Melbourne), Friday, September 15

It was almost by accident Tibetan-Australian Kelsang Wangmo became a symbol for her homeland's women.

Mrs Wangmo knew attending the United Nations women's conference in Beijing could be distressing.

The Blackburn mother of two only went because her Australian passport gained her a Chinese visa, which so many of her colleagues living in exile in India were refused.

But her treatment at the hands of Chinese officials has left her determined to tell the world about Tibet's plight.

The constant surveillance from some Chinese women during the conference left her and other Tibetan-exile delegates often scared for their safety.

Shortly after meeting Health Minister Carmen Lawrence, Mrs Wangmo and Dorji Dolma from Sydney were shoved and abused by a group of Chinese women.

"We were very proud to be Australians. Carmen Lawrence was the only woman who stood up and said China was abusing human rights. Hillary Clinton made a speech, but did not have the guts to say it."