Mingalarpar ...

I wish you accomplished all of your work while staying strong to get through the Covid-19 period in the end of 2020.

Having started in May 2008 with the collective effort of members and partners, Gender Equality Network has turned 12 years old in 2020, holding standard such as equality, non-discrimination and inclusiveness. Our goal is that Myanmar becomes a society in which there is gender equality at all levels and where human rights are respected, enabling everyone to have equal opportunities, to participate in decision-making, and to live free from violence.

Since the inception of the network, there were a lot of difficulties and challenges. However, with the collective strength, we are prioritizing to implement institutional mechanism for gender equality; form an active network with the participation of capable and confident members; promote meaningful participation of women; eliminate gender-based violence; and get rid of customary practices and cultural norms that affect the development of women’s lives and leadership.

In the beginning of 2020, a draft law that prevents violence against women has come out due to the cooperation of members and partners. Let’s combine the effort and work together so that a better law that protects women come into place.

GEN’S HIGHLIGHTS

Political Participation Leadership for Women Training

Gender Equality Network conducted the Political Participation Leadership for Women training in the project areas: Mandalay, Taunggyi, Myitkyinar and Hpa An. Sayar U Nay Win Naing from the Fifth Pillar facilitated the three-day training which aims for more women’s participation in the politics and for more women leaders. Although the training was physically conducted in Mandalay and Taunggyi, it was conducted via Zoom in Myitkyinar and Hpa An due to the second wave of Covid-19. Women parliamentarians, women candidates and CSOs attended the training and there was a total of 90 women participants. This activity is supported by EU.

Policy Dialogue Workshop

Gender Equality Network conducted the Policy Dialogue Workshops on 13th and 15th November 2020 for CSOs in Kachin State and Kayin State respectively via Zoom.For the opening speech, respective regional coordinators explained the regional activities of GEN in Kachin and Kayin State. Next, Policy Dialogue Coordinator explained the purpose of the workshop. For the one-day workshop, CSOs discussed the regional issue and how to link and work with Local Authorities and Member of Parliament for outcome gender policy in Kayin State. This activity is supported by EU.

CEDAW Alliance Meeting

GEN organized the CEDAW Alliance Meeting from 1st to 3rd October 2020 and discussed the four priority areas identifying the stakeholders, key messages for the stakeholders and planned the activities forward.

Psychosocial Support Workshop

Gender Equality Network conducted the Psychosocial Support Workshop via Zoom on 9th October 2020 to provide emotional support for the network members and CU staff and Dr. May Zaw Naing from CITTA organization facilitated the workshop. The workshop lasted for almost three hours and it was a productive session with a lot of questions from the participants. A total of 53 participants attended the workshop.

Live Discussions

In October 2020, GEN organized online discussions titled “Women and Politics” on 10th and “Women Parliamentarians and Their Experience” on 24th via Zoom platform and live stream on GEN’s Facebooks. GEN invited experts from related fields and women parliamentarians as the speakers for the discussions. These online discussions reached a variety of audiences and gained good engagement: 3.7K Views and 2.4 K Views respectively. Other interesting online discussion will be organized in November and we invite you to stay tuned.

Women and Politics Link - https://fb.watch/1zi_7l_DA6/

Women Parliamentarians and Their Experience Link - https://fb.watch/1zj3gsxaSG/

GEN’s training for Partner Christian Aid’s Staff

Gender Equality Network conducted the two-day Gender and GBV training on 14th and 15th October 2020 via Zoom for the field staff of Christian Aid who are from Chin and Rakhine States and there were 11 participants.

16 Days of Activism

GEN organized the 16 Days of Activism working group meeting on 5th and 19th September to prepare for the upcoming campaign. GEN members and 16 Days of Activism working group members attended the meeting. Due to the current pandemic situation, 16 Days of Activism will be organized through online with a variety of competitions; essay competition, poster competition, short story competition, and Tik Tok competition were held in October. Essay and poster competition started on 1st October and ended on 28th October. Public engagement to these competitions was promising and a lot of entries were received. More information is available at https://www.facebook.com/16daysofactivismofGEN/.

MEMBERS’ HIGHLIGHTS

In partnership with Phan Tee Eain, International Alert has already launched the campaign page of the men-focused Covid19 GBV prevention messaging campaign: “သင်ဘာလုပ်မလဲ - Choose Your Action” (Thinbarlutemalae)”

Our celebrity video and animation video with 5 ethnic languages have already designed to speak directly to male audience against GBV and posted on our campaign page. We hope that they are useful in any community-level awareness raising that your members are doing.

GEN’s support in Others’ work

Multi-Agency Roundtable on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response

GEN’s Head of Policy Advocacy, Dr Hnin Shwe Zin Hlaing, participated in the virtual multi-agency roundtable on gender-based violence (GBV) response coordination in the context of COVID-19, which was held on 16th October 2020 as a representative of GEN. She made a presentation of GEN’s response to gender-based violence during Covid-19 period.

Meeting with Director General of Department of Social Welfare

On 6 October, GEN’s Co-Chairs & SMT met with Director General of Department of Social Welfare by zoom and they did discussion on GEN’s work plan and seek guidance from DG.

Women’s Political Leadership: From Local to National Online Discussion

Among over 7000 candidates who are going to be elected in the upcoming 2020 election, women candidates make up 15.6%. Enlighten Myanmar Research Foundation (EMReF) held an online discussion named “Women’s Political Leadership: From Local to National” on 16th October 2020 to present the research findings of women’s political life experience and public’s opinion on women, women’s leadership within the community and the research manager at Gender Equality Network, Soe Myat Tun, participated as a panelist. This discussion was live on DVB TV News facebook page and is available at https://web.facebook.com/watch/?v=468932957359016.

Women and Politics Discussion

GEN’s Training Coordinator participated as a speaker in “Women and Politics” online discussion organized by YSEALi WLA Alumni Myanmar on 24th October 2020.

CEDAW Alliance Strategy Meeting

From October 1 to 3, GEN’s Director, SCs and CU staffs joined CEDAW Alliance Strategy meeting to discuss about developing advocacy strategy of the CEDAW Alliance. Around 30 participants were participated.

CSO Leaders’ Coordination Meeting for COVID-19 Response

On 5.10.2020, GEN's Director joined the CSO leaders’ coordination meeting for COVID-19 response in the afternoon by zoom. The purpose of the coordination meeting is to work together with civil society leaders to indentify pratical solutions to the currnet epidemic: Covid-19. About 24 CSO`s Leaders were attended.

Women’s Cant’ Wait Event

On October 26, GEN's Director joined zoom meeting on Women’s Cant’ wait event organized by British Embassy.

AGIPP’s Annual General Meeting

On October 21 to 22, GEN's Director joined and provided an opening remark at AGIPP’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) as Chair of AGIPP by Zoom. At the meeting, members of Steering Committee and AGIPP’ seven alliance members: GEN, KSWN, MWN, Shalom, WAPAN, WON attended the two-day AGM meeting. The first day of Annual General meeting hold to discuss AGIPP’ activities during 2020, and Seven alliance partners made a video UNSCR 1325 video clip, covering WPS activities which was carried out by their project as well as discussed on AGIPP’ future activities. On 22 October, AGIPP presented a summary agreement for further activities. Most importantly, the election for chair of AGIPP position was took place during meeting. Sayarma Mi Cherry Soe, Steering Committee member of MWN have been elected as a chair of AGIPP. A total of 83 people attended the meeting, including 13 males and 70 females.

ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on the Elimination of Violence Against Women Review Meeting

GEN’s Director, Co-Chairs, SCs, members and staffs participated and supported as facilitators/note takers at ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on the Elimination of Violence Against Women review meeting by zoom which is organised by MSWRR. GEN`s Director, GEN`s Co-Chairs, GEN`s Adviser and GEN`s SCs were participated. As facilitators - GEN`s SCs and note takers are Head of Policy & Advocacy, Head of Program Units and Research Manager were supported. As GEN`s member - KWEG, Care Myanmar, Trocaire, ActionAid, Thingaha Gender Organization, Christian Aid, AFXB, DCA/NCA, Internation Alert, Diakonia, Mon Women Organization, World Vision and Legal Clinic Myanmar were attended. In the meeting, members of GBV Working Group, National Technical Working Group on Violence Against Women and Relevant government coordination bodies/ Ministries at national level as well as sub-nation level were reviewed on the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Featured Resource

UNSCR 1325 Video

October 30, 2020 marks the 20th Anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325. The resolution reaffirms the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction and stresses the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security. To celebrate this special day, Gender Equality Network created a video which sends the message and explain what GEN has been doing for women, peace and security.

Facebook Link - https://fb.watch/1znBCkuU08/

CHAMPION FOR GENDER EQUALITY

Gender Equality Network and Mizzima Media have collaborated to produce and broadcast a program called "Champion for Gender Equality". This program will present the champions in Myanmar who are working towards gender equality.