Unlocking Civil Society and Peace in Myanmar: Opportunities, Obstacles and Undercurrents
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 Source: Frontier
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"Including civil society in peacebuilding leads to longer lasting peace.”
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Two decades ago, civil society in Myanmar was declared dead. Now, in the wake of reforms starting in 2010, a diverse cross section of civil society organisations (CSOs) has proliferated across the country. Many of them have made important contributions to efforts to achieve peace in a country whose people have known armed conflict and communal divisions for decades.
These contributions are as diverse as the CSOs making them. Some have sought to engage actively in the formal national peace process, for example, while others are working informally at the grassroots. This Discussion Paper from the PSF draws on research in cities, towns and villages across the country in the hope of offering deeper insights into the efforts of those working for a peaceful Myanmar. It is a snapshot, rather than a comprehensive overview, that aims to stimulate discussion about potential ways forward. Starting with an account of the evolution of civil society in Myanmar, it goes on to analyse the roles and functions of CSOs in the country’s peacebuilding efforts using a scholarly framework devised by Thania Paffenholz. Next, it presents case studies of CSOs that give a close-up view of some of the work going on across Myanmar. We hope this Discussion Paper will be a stepping stone to a broader conversation, and we warmly invite your questions and feedback: analysis@paungsiefacility.org. #civilsociety #peacebuilding #peace #Myanmar #ceasefire #socialcohesion #endconflict #interfaithharmony |
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Youth and Everyday Peace: Fostering the Untapped Potential of Myanmar’s Youth
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"Today’s youth will inherit Myanmar. Only if youth participate now in the peace dialogue can they
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The PSF’s Discussion Paper Youth and Everyday Peace in Myanmar: Fostering the Untapped Potential of Myanmar’s Youth, is an acknowledgement of the diverse contributions of young people to Myanmar’s transition. This Paper presents a range of strategies and practical suggestions for stakeholders to consider with a view to spark substantive discussion on how to harness a generation of tech-savvy and innovative leaders. The Paper also celebrates the second anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 2250, the first resolution putting young people at the centre of conflict resolution efforts globally. Myanmar’s youth will not only inherit decisions and actions made today, they are actively shaping the foundations of sustainable peace in the country both within and between communities. The PSF is committed to YPS, having supported a diversity of youth-led initiatives seeking to build social cohesion across the country. The Paper reflects on youth inclusion since 2011 in peacebuilding, analysing opportunities and barriers to engaging young men and women in Myanmar’s transition. While not an exhaustive assessment of youth inclusion, the Paper provides a starting point for discussions on how to deepen youth inclusion in Myanmar. We invite you to see how you might contribute to harnessing the untapped potential of Myanmar’s youth. We welcome your feedback and comments– share your ideas with us by email: analysis@paungsiefacility.org #myanmaryouth #missingpeace #yps #myanmar #youth #youth4peace |
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The Women Are Ready: An Opportunity to Transform Peace in Myanmar
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In January 2016, the PSF released a report on Women, Peace and Security in Myanmar, The Women are ready: an opportunity to transform peace in Myanmar, in acknowledgement of the 15th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325- the landmark resolution on Women, Peace and Security. The PSF is committed to supporting WPS. Approximately 20% of all funds are committed to projects that directly support WPS in Myanmar.
This discussion paper is not a definitive statement. It offers a first step in a difficult conversation and asks the following questions: how and where can women stake more claims to political space in Myanmar? What underlying factors need to be addressed to transform the status of women in Myanmar?
Section 3 of this report provides a host of strategies and practices- all based on best practice and global evidence - that a host of stakeholders can undertake in Myanmar related to Women, Peace and Security.
#WomenPeaceSecurity #equality #women #CEDAW #nowomennopeace #sustainingpeace #GenderPeaceSecurity
This discussion paper is not a definitive statement. It offers a first step in a difficult conversation and asks the following questions: how and where can women stake more claims to political space in Myanmar? What underlying factors need to be addressed to transform the status of women in Myanmar?
Section 3 of this report provides a host of strategies and practices- all based on best practice and global evidence - that a host of stakeholders can undertake in Myanmar related to Women, Peace and Security.
#WomenPeaceSecurity #equality #women #CEDAW #nowomennopeace #sustainingpeace #GenderPeaceSecurity
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Situation Analysis of Southeastern Myanmar
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The Situation Analysis of southeastern Myanmar has been prepared by the PSF and the Myanmar Information Management Unit (MIMU) as a resource to support programming, strategy and policy across the peace, humanitarian and development sectors. For this Analysis, southeastern Myanmar includes: Mon State, Kayin State, Kayah State, eastern and southern Shan State, Tanintharyi Region and eastern Bago Region.
This Situation Analysis is not a needs assessment or gap analysis. It is a snapshot in time in a rapidly changing context. It is a step towards identifying key trends and bringing together a growing body of knowledge and data on southeastern Myanmar across the development, humanitarian and peace sectors. Each section of this report provides an overview of key issues and seeks to understand the current situation in a heterogenous area of Myanmar. Information was gathered through a desk review and 36 key informant interview which aimed to capture additional information on trends, gaps and emerging areas. A further 32 participants took part in a validation workshop in March 2016 to review key findings. The analysis did not involve consultations outside Yangon or with interviewees from Government or non-state actors (NSAs), including EAOs. Documents cited can be found at: http://themimu.info/se-situation-analysis #MIMU #Burma #development | ||||||||
Claiming Spaces: Women Mobilising for Peace and Equality in Myanmar
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The PSF's Gender, Peace and Security (GPS) window supported 18 emerging civil society organisations to engage in GPS issues. There is global evidence that women's empowerment and gender equality in conflict-affected settings yields positive results for peacebuilding. The GPS window provided core funding support and affirmed that this type of allocated funding is a model that works for gender programming in fragile, conflict-affected countries.
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