Mingalarpar...

I am Nang Phyu Phyu Lin. I have been involved in GEN since the Women Protection Technical Working group was formed after Nargis in 2008. During the past ten years that I get involved, GEN, as network with the collective strength of network members, carried out research related to women’s rights and gender; conducted discussions and monthly meetings; and did state-level advocacy while carrying the voice of people on women’s rights, gender equality, LGBT issues and rights of disabled people. All of these are the collective strength of the network. Although it is very tiring sometimes to integrate the gender perspective in the development of the nation, we can reach our goal with collective strength.

At the Union Peace Conference - 21st Century Panglong which took place from 19th to 21st August 2020, Part 3 of the Union Treaty was signed. The role of our Gender Equality Network is instrumental to integrate gender perspective in implementing the peace processes after 2020. I would like to urge you to continue the long journey with the power of the network to increase gender equality, safety and participation of women while building the democratic federal union that we hope for.

GEN organized the first 16 Days of Activism working group meeting on 25th August as a preparation for the campaign this year. GEN members and 16 Days of Activism working group members attended the meeting and the meeting focused on what GEN did in the previous year, working group members' plans for this year and what the theme should be for this year.

14th August 2020 - GEN’s Director participated as a panelist in Tax Policy Brief launch & panel discussion for an equal Myanmar jointly organized by Oxfam and ActionAid Myanmar. In the afternoon, she joined the WPS TWG meeting as AGIPP’s Chair by zoom.

25th and 26th August 2020 - GEN's Director facilitated two-day CEDAW Training for Kachin State Women Network (KSWN) as AGIPP`s Chairs by Zoom. There are about 30 participants in the training. During the training, she shared about Human Rights, Women Rights, CEDAW, and the NGO report processes and the trainees actively participated in the discussion.

5th August 2020 – GEN participated in NSPAW Technical Working Group (TWGs) Co-Chairs meeting of all organized by DSW, where the former Co-Chairs and current Co-Chairs discussed the 3 years NSPAW Operational Plan including achievements in 2019-mid 2020. This meeting was followed by separate meetings of the TWG to discuss activities in detail.

14th August 2020 - GEN participated as Alternate Co-Chair in the TWG Mainstreaming meeting and discussed in detail the remaining activities to be implemented by the TWG Mainstreaming group for the remaining part of the year.

5th August 2020 - GEN’s Director joined the NSPAW TWG Chairs/Co-Chairs meeting by zoom in the morning and joined a zoom meeting for UPC with AGIPP’s SCs in the afternoon.

21st August 2020 – GEN’s Director met with Social Minister of Mon State, Chair of Women & Children Affairs Committee of Mon State Hluttaw and Director and Assistant Director of the Department of Social Welfare in Mawlamyaing.

In order to promote the rights of LGBTIQ people, GEN created a cover music video of the soundtrack of “The Greatest Showman” movie. This music video named “This Is Me” aims to encourage LGBTIQ people to conquer the challenges that they are facing and inspire them to be proud of their own identity. You can watch the video in the link below:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=426650864915838&extid=7op4zLl5NAHKn2HZ

Youtube - https://youtu.be/A4n89ZENm_M

In July, GEN held an essay competition in honour of the Myanmar Women’s Day. Out of 66 essays submitted, 4 essays were selected as winners by the juries unanimously. To read the winner essays, please go to https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15uBR2xnmb_AeQr2vlB2zONoQr1gApv61?usp=sharing