OVERVIEW
The 2015 National Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) has 10 of 18 signatories engaged with the Myanmar Tatmadaw (military) and government. The NCA is set up to discuss the transition toward a federal system of governance. The implementation of the NCA is a complicated process and unlikely to end all hostilities in the near to medium future. Focus at present is on gaining the signature of more armed groups (who are recognised as ‘partners’ by the Tatmadaw) and resolving issues under the five committees (political, security, land and resources, social, and economic). Despite the provision of a 30 per cent quota for women’s representation in each committee, the only one that has reached this quota to date is the social committee. Due to strong civil society advocacy as well as coordinated international donor packages that emphasise gender inclusion, there are a number of positive outcome from the peace process to date concerning women. Female representation in federal parliament has increased, there is an alliance of gender focused civil society participants at the annual peace process, and for the first time, civil society is contributing to decisions and processes within Myanmar bureaucracy. However, women are still poorly represented in local politics where gender norms and safe spaces for women constrain their participation. The Constitution still permits the Tatmadaw to have control over key Ministries that affect citizenship, policing and security sector reform, and economic reform. There are no transitional justice processes being implemented, to date, in the peace process and there remain significant concerns about the safe participation of women on matters pertaining to the peace agreement, race, religion, and politics. Women’s participation has been primarily sought through ethnic identity/association and civil society participation. It remains very difficult for women to participate in Myanmar’s political space or its peace process without countering gendered and racial patriarchal norms.
