The Alliance for Gender Inclusion in the Peace Process (AGIPP) welcomes the increased participation of women at the Union Peace Conference - the first 21st Century Panglong Conference, held in Nay Pyi Taw from 31 August to 3 September 2016. In comparison to 7% of invitees to the first Union Peace Conference in January 2016 being women, this was a sign of progress towards a more inclusive peace process. Women comprised an estimated 13% of the overall participants at the Panglong conference.
The Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs) had the highest rate of women’s participation, with 36 women delegates out of a total of 175 delegates (20.5%). AGIPP would like to recognize the conscious efforts of the EAOs to address the issues of women’s participation, their contribution and gender inclusion in a more substantive way and welcome further collaboration on the issue. The EAOs also sought and provided funding to support women (and men) with primary caring responsibilities to pay for child care.
The AGIPP welcomed the presentation of papers from all of the organisations at the Conference and analysed the content of those presentations. Key issues relating to women’s rights and gender equality are outlined below:
Out of the papers presented by participants, only a small number out of each total discussed or touched on gender equality and women’s priorities:
|
|
Papers Presented |
Papers referencing Gender Equality/ Women’s Priorities |
|
Government |
5 |
2 |
|
Tatmadaw |
10 |
1 |
|
EAOs |
14 |
3 |
|
Parliament Constituency |
5 |
1 |
|
Political Parties |
26 |
9 |
|
Ethnic Representatives |
6 |
2 |
|
Other Stakeholders |
6 |
3 |
Of the 72 papers presented at the conference, only twenty-one (29%) had any level of attention or reference to gender equality and women’s rights. In those papers that addresses these issues, a number of specific issues were raised, including the need for social protection of women affected by armed conflict, and enabling of women's participation in all levels of the peace processes.
Some papers presented by the Tatmadaw and the Government contained an emphasis on the rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and women’s rights. AGIPP perceived this as a positive step and welcomed these contributions. In particular, AGIPP positively noted the presentation from the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement (MSWRR), which addressed the related issues of the experience of women in IDP camps and their need for support, on legislation to prevent and protect women from violence, and the necessity for increased women’s participation in the peace process.
Papers were presented by the EAOs on policy development related to federalism, democracy, and state building. In these papers, gender equality was included as a basic principle. AGIPP was pleased to make note of the political parties, ethnic representatives, and other stakeholders who recommended the importance of women’s participation in decision-making, ending impunity for those who commit violence against women, adoption of gender-equality policies, and adherence to the United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) 1325, 1820 and other international standards and norms. There was also a recommendation to guarantee a gender responsive security sector reform and to take into consideration women’s security.
AGIPP looks forward to working with all of these stakeholders to ensure consideration of gender equality and women’s participation in practical implementation of this ongoing work in the peace process.
Opportunities for improvement
1. The Framework for Political Dialogue (FPD), which was developed following the signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in 2015, outlined a commitment to include a minimum of 30% women as participants in every level of political dialogues. As this commitment has not been fulfilled, there is an opportunity to realise this.
2. During the first Union Peace Conference in January of 2016, a commitment was also made to include at minimum of 30% women as participants in every stage of the political dialogue. This commitment has not been implemented and there is an opportunity to realise this.
3. Policy dialogue on women’s experience of and roles in conflict and the peace process in Myanmar is often stuck in describing women only as victims’ as ‘a vulnerable and marginalised group’ that required protection, there is an opportunity to ensure that women’s agency and ability to substantively contribute skills, knowledge, expertise in conflict resolution, mediation, and peacebuilding is recognised and valued in order to influence the policy discussions to advance a more inclusive peace process.
AGIPP Recommendations:
