Women Peace Ambassadors voices are being heard in Myanmar

While Atā Thingyan, the Myanmar New Year Festival, is a time traditionally devoted to cleansing, renewal, and community celebration, this year, the nation also grapples with the aftermath of a devastating earthquake. During these difficult moments, we are reminded of the power of collective strength, community, and care. In this spirit, we spotlight the unwavering commitment of Myanmar’s Women Peace Ambassadors, leaders who continue to work within their communities to champion women’s rights and strengthen their voice in the face of adversity. Here are their stories.

Myanmar’s civil war and the current political landscape offer limited room for women to take up leadership roles in state- and peacebuilding efforts. A patriarchal system hinders their efforts to fully participate in politics. NIMD Myanmar is committed to change this situation for the better. We recognize that women have a fundamental right to have a say in their societies, and the option to ascend the political ladder. Both the lower levels of politics and the higher should be available to all women. Providing specialized training programmes to address the underrepresentation of women, ensuring women’s needs are met and tackling gender-based violence, our aim is to strengthen women’s agency and collective voice.

Despite the unrest in Myanmar, NIMD Myanmar has set up a strong network of Women Peace Ambassadors in Shan State. Consisting of passionate women with a background in rights, politics, activism and civil society, the network advocates for gender equality and women’s rights within the State. We support this network through training and dialogue. We have created safe spaces for the Women Peace Ambassadors to engage with and uplift each other. Additionally, we provide trainings on democratization, Women Peace and Security (WPS), engaging men about WPS, peace processes in Myanmar, conflict resolution, political ideologies, mediation training and mindfulness. Although the ambassadors face challenges due to the armed conflict they stay committed.

The Women Peace Ambassadors enthusiastically speak to other women and men on women’s rights and the need for more women in decision making processes at the subnational and national level. Some pass on the knowledge they have gained by offering trainings to women and girls in their communities, others provide legal advice or conduct research. Together they have a profound impact on their environments, shaping a future democratic culture in Myanmar. Membership of the Women Peace Ambassador-network has enabled them to bring much needed change to Shan State.

Inspiration

Today they stand up with courage and speak up in their villages and areas, like one Shan-based freelance trainer who raises awareness on gender and equality through her work. With pride this political party member tells us about her experiences. “I’ve been a Women Peace Ambassador since the end of 2023. Ever since I attended eleven trainings on democratization, conflict resolution and WPS. Through the work of NIMD I feel empowered to advocate for equal rights. I am inspired by NIMD’s teachings, which I also use in my training programmes.”

Our learning and networking events proved to be very helpful to her when countering conflicts, she says. “I now have ideas to solve conflict situations in my community and I am better able to deal with conflicts in my personal life. I learned to have respect for other ideologies and that all people have their own, different rights.”

Better listener

NIMD has another profound personal effect on her. “Before my involvement as Women Peace Ambassador, I was very talkative, very eager to express my thoughts about gender equality and I didn’t leave much space for others to express theirs. I have learned to listen first and give others the space to voice their opinions. Just by listening more, I noticed that I got more information out of my community that I can use in my trainings.”

However, the messages about equal rights she spreads do not always find willing ears. “Currently I advocate for gender equality and women’s rights, but I noticed that Shan State is still conservative in some ways. When I talk to the elderly about these subjects, they tell me that they do not want to change.” Fortunately, the youth is more open to her message. “Young people want to know more about women’s rights and equality, so I am happy to provide them with my knowledge”, she adds.

Our Women Peace Ambassador is thankful for her new life. “Thanks to NIMD I no longer feel limited in my abilities. I have been able to improve my skills and knowledge and now I deliver them to my community. NIMD’s networking events helped me and my trainings a lot!”

Noticed and heard

“I am a former Chair of a political party in Shan State”, another participant told us recently. “Nowadays I work as a lawyer. Since 2018 I serve as a Women Peace Ambassador. I have attended so many NIMD trainings that I lost count of them. After all the learning events I feel so empowered to advocate for women’s rights in the civil society organization I work for”, she says.

She recounts that, due to her knowledge on democracy and conflict resolution, she and other Women Peace Ambassadors now hold leading positions in their communities. Villagers come to them and ask if they can address certain issues, solve problems or mediate in disputes. In this way, women’s voices are being heard for the first time. “Before my ambassadorship the men in my community didn’t notice me. Now I feel seen, heard and respected! My knowledge is being acknowledged. Male villagers gave me the space to take up my leading role. I feel more confident when I speak in public about women’s rights and gender equality.”

“I notice that there are more discussions about conflict resolution, women’s rights and gender equality in my community”, she reflects.

Vitamin shot 

Another Woman Peace Ambassador describes her personal growth, having started out a someone who was scared to speak up. “Currently I advocate for women’s rights and gender equality, and I do so without fear of conservative people. I just stand up and talk. As a member of the Shan State Council, a position I was able to get thanks to NIMD’s trainings, I initiate talks about implementing a federal democracy. Those are in progress.” Her ambassadorship brought her much more than she had anticipated beforehand. “I do see changes in my environment towards me. I have gained the trust of my community, because I get things done. When our area flooded in October, I arranged humanitarian aid to be delivered to my village. I feel the change in my community. It is as though I got a vitamin shot from NIMD. I just want to get the energy going.” 

“I am very proud to be a Women Peace Ambassador, because I can be of help”, she finalizes. “We have much unemployment here. I now organize network events for educated youth. NIMD is like a lighthouse, a beacon of hope for all women in Shan State.”

Our Women Peace Ambassadors organized two in-person trainings for other women in Shan State in June and November 2024. Men were invited to join and took part in the discussions. This shows the commitment of the Ambassadors to engage others, both women and men, in their communities about women’s political participation in peace and security. Their work is not easy. The armed conflict is an everyday presence in their lives and work. Furthermore, they face challenges like travel restrictions and the recurring lack of internet and telephone accessibility needed for their important work.

Despite this all, our Women Peace Ambassadors remain committed to a better, inclusive society. It is this attitude that shows their unwavering resilience to advocate for women participation. Their success motivates us to continue our support in the years to come. We believe that we can contribute to a different political system where women fully contribute to the democratic peace-making processes in Myanmar.