Mingalarbar!
Welcome to the December 2019 Edition of the GEN Monthly Newsletter! 16 Days of Activism events were successfully organized in Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon with the engagement of the members of parliament and the general public in December. This is another milestone for GEN and we are looking forward to organizing more engaging campaigns in the future. Another good news in December is that the Director of Gender Equality Network, Daw May Sabe Phyu, received the 2019 N-Peace Award, along with other awardees from the region. Our heartiest congratulations to hear and we wish her more success in the future.
We always request a GEN member, friend or staff to provide some insight into their participation with GEN. This month, we request Sayar Win Pike Myo, Training Coordinator of GEN, to share his feelings and experience with GEN.
Mingalarbar!
It’s my pleasure to write a greeting letter to all the GEN family in December. December is the warmest time to rest after a long year and means quality time with the family. So, I’d like to say a Happy New Year to all the GEN family members first.
Now it has been three years that I’m working at GEN-CU. I will always remember the unforgettable memories that we have created together during these three years. These memories are created because of the cooperation of SCs, CU staff at GEN, their goodwill towards the development of the country and their respect and compliance for equality.
I hope that the highly anticipated PoVAW law will be enacted next year. Therefore, let me conclude by urging all the GEN family members to work together to turn a draft law into a real law that protects women from violence.
Happy New Year and thank you all.
GEN's Highlights
A representative of Gender Equality Network attended the Asia Gender Trainers’ Network Program (AGent) held from 27th October to 9th November 2019 in South Korea. A total of 22 representatives from Asia countries attended and the Training Coordinator of GEN, Ko Win Pike Myo attended and participated. That program is initiated by the Korea Institute for Gender Equality promotion and Education (KIGEPE) which is under the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family of South Korea and co-organized by UN Women. A variety of topics such as the experience of gender equality in your life-river of life, exploring Gender in context, gender binary, gender stereotypes, gender at work analytical framework, gender, and human rights, and power were discussed during the five days of the program and participants from different countries shared their experience. Moreover, participants had a chance to go to the Aha Sexuality Center and the Seoul Crisis Intervention Center in Seoul, Korea and the Sun-mi Village (Seo-no-song Art Village project) and Han-ok village in Jeon-Ju and learn the traditional Korean art in the regions, service provision and assistance plan for the women survivors of GBV.
Engaging with Parliamentarian workshops supported by the European Union was conducted in four states and regions: Kachin, Kayin, Shan, and Mandalay with the respective CSOs, committee members and staff of Hluttaw. The aims of these workshops are to be able to implement gender-responsive policies and changes and to strengthen the interaction between CSOs and MPs. There were a total of 88 participants (19 M, 69 F). (EU)
With the support of UNESCAP and UN Women, Steering Committee Member of Gender Equality Network, Sayarma Kyawt Kyawt Khaing, represented GEN at the Beijing+25 Regional CSO Forum held from 24 November 2019 to 26 November 2019 at the United Nations Conference Center (UNCC) in Bangkok, Thailand and at the Asia – Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing + 25 Review meeting held from 27th to 29th November. (UNESCAP & UN Women)
Gender Equality Network organized the Forever White Ribbon - 16 Days of Activism entertainment and dinner reception on 6th December at Park Royal Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw. At the event, Union Minister Dr. Win Myat Aye (Chair of MNCW, MSWRR) delivered the opening remark, Daw Pyae Phyo Swe (Senior Women Empowerment Officer- Torcaire) gave the welcome remark and Daw Nwe Zin Win (Co-Chair of GEN) explained the purpose of organising the 16 Days of Activism. A total of 200 participants including the members of parliament from different states and regions, members of MNCW, UN agencies and GEN members attended the dinner reception. During the event, Forever White Ribbon activities from 2016 to 2018 were displayed to the participants and Kings N Queens performed a role-play followed by the Thangyat performance by Oopaday Chit Thu Thangyat group. The dinner reception was successfully concluded with the thank you speech by Mr. Ramanathan Balakrishnan (Representative of UNFPA). (UNFPA & Trocaire)
Forever White Ribbon - 16 Days of Activism Zat Swe was successfully organized on 8th December 2019 at Myawzin Island, Kandawgyi with Phoe Chit Theatrical performance group. In the afternoon, over 30 organizations opened the booth display and conducted the quiz sessions with the attendees by giving presents. Forever White Ribbon Zaw Swe started around 6:30 pm and Dr. San San Aye (Director General, DSW) delivered the opening speech. Next, Ms. Katy Webley (Fund Director, LIFT) and Mr. Ramanathan Balakrishnan (UNFPA) gave the welcome speech and Daw Nwe Zin Win (Co-Chair, GEN) and Daw Padamyar Kay Khine (Organizer) explained the purpose of organising the event. There were around 1500 participants and they enjoyed the Zat Pwe till the end. (LIFT & UNFPA)
Gender Equality Network participated in the 71st International Human Rights Day organised by Equality Myanmar on 10th December 2019 at Thakhin Mya Park. The theme for this year is “Youth Standing Up for Human Rights”. Many CSOs and NGOs participated and GEN opened a booth display and distributed the IEC materials. It’s our pleasure and honour to have participated in this event. (LIFT)
GEN and IDEA jointly organized a Constitution Assessment for Women's Equality (CAWE) roll out training in Mandalay from 9-11 December 2019. It was participated by parliamentarians, political party members and CSOs. The main activities of the training include how to use the CAWE tool in assessing the women's equality and to draw up findings and recommendations for inclusion in producing Advocacy Briefs by IDEA. (IDEA)
Gender Equality Network attended and participated in the International Human Rights Day event held in Bamaw on 10th December 2019. Director of GEN, Daw May Sabe Phyu, delivered a speech about human rights and participated as a jury of the impromptu talk. Moreover, IEC materials produced by GEN were distributed to the attendees. (LIFT)
Gender Equality Network held the monthly meeting for December on 20th December 2019 at the Golden Inya Restaurant. As the special sessions, Dr. Sid Naing (MSI) and Sayarma Yadana (UNFPA) made a presentation about the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD 25) and Myan Ant introduced about the organization and its service.
Next, the year-end meeting was followed and GEN gave the honouring awards to Sayarma Nang Pu (Htoi Gender and Development Foundation) and Sayarma Khin Ohmmar Moe (Myanmar Women Entrepreneurs' Association) who received the international awards. After that, Active member awards were given and INGO member MSI, NGO/CSO member Women’s Federation for Peace and TRP member Sayarma Daw Tyn Tyn Hla received the awards respectively. GEN and members spent the last meeting of 2019 by taking photographs at the Photo Booth, exchanging gifts, enjoying dinner and playing games happily. GEN would like to express gratitude to our members for your active participation. (UNFPA, Trocaire, LIFT & IDRC-IS)
Gender Responsive Budgeting Training was conducted on 23rd and 24th December 2019 in Hpa An with the committee members and staff of Kayin Hluttaw. The aim of this training is for a better understanding of gender and gender budgeting and the training was supported by Christian Aid, Oxfam, and Trocaire. A total of 12 participants (8 F, 4 M) attended the training. (CA, Oxfam & Trocaire)
As Co-Chair of Technical Working Group (TWG) on Gender Mainstreaming, GEN Advisor co-chaired the TWG together with the Chair of TWG, Director-General of Department of Social Welfare on 6 December 2019 in Nay Pyi Taw. The output of the meeting included the draft 3 years operational plan of NSPAW. (LIFT)
Meetings and Workshops Attended by GEN’s Representatives
2nd December 2019 - Director of Gender Equality Network, Daw May Sabe Phyu, attended the day three of the “Pursuing Arts in Research” event organized by the Enlightened Myanmar Research Foundation - EMReF and participated in the program named “Reading Short Novels (Excerpts): Borderless Clouds”.
3rd December 2019 - Director of Gender Equality Network, Daw May Sabe Phyu, participated in the panel discussion named “Generation Equality: Stand Against Rape” organized today, on 3rd December 2019 at the American Center. The other panelists are Daw Hla Hla Yee (Director & Advocate, Legal Clinic Myanmar), Daw Mi Mi Thin Aung (Gender Advocate) and Ko Tin Ko Ko (Founder, Kings N Queens) and they shared their work on gender equality and advocacy in Myanmar.
4th December 2019 – GEN’s Director and SC members participated in the Development Effectiveness Roundtable Event on 4th of December 2019 which is organized by the Development Assistance Coordination Unit (DACU). The event took place at MICC2 in Nay Pyi Taw and attended by the total number of over 450 including ministers, senior government officials, ambassadors, representatives from NGOs and INGOs.
5th December 2019 – GEN Director, Daw May Sabe Phyu, was present at Women, Peace and Security Forum organized by Alliance for Gender Inclusion in the peace process (AGIPP). This forum was conducted at Novotel Hotel, Yangon on 5th December 2019. It was filled by a total of over 100 representatives from AGIPP's alliance members and about 31 organizations focusing on women, peace and security. During the forum, participants contributed their recommendations on women, peace and security issues happening in Myanmar.
12th December 2019 - GEN Advisor participated in the GBV Sub-Group meeting held on 12 December 2019 in Yangon. It was participated by many stakeholders working on GBV in Myanmar, especially with focus on conflict sensitive areas such as Kachin, Rakhine and Shan. The group exchanged information on GBV related activities being undertaken by respective organizations and how to best coordinate effectively in terms of implementing NSPAW, PoVAW law advocacy and implementation and support UN Joint Communique implementation.