1st Edition

Women, Peace and Security in Myanmar Between Feminism and Ethnopolitics

Edited By Åshild Kolås Copyright 2020

    This book describes women’s efforts as agents for change in Myanmar and examines the potential of the peace process as an opportunity for women’s empowerment.

    Following decades of political turbulence, the volume describes the contributions of women in Myanmar in the midst of a difficult peace process and reflects on the significance of the Women, Peace and Security agenda in this context. The book examines how women have mobilized for peace, while also addressing women’s participation in the conflict, and investigates the perspectives and aims of women’s organizations and the challenges and aspirations of women activists in Myanmar’s ethnic areas. Contributions in the volume discuss and critically assess the argument that war and peacebuilding add momentum to the transformation of gender roles. By presenting new knowledge on women’s disempowerment and empowerment in conflict, and their participation in peacebuilding, this book adds important insights into the debate on gender and political change in societies affected by conflict.

    This book will be of interest to students of peace and conflict studies, gender studies and security studies in general.

    Introduction: Women, Peace and Security in Myanmar: The Map and the Terrain Åshild Kolås

    1. UNSCR 1325 in Myanmar: Women’s Rights, Peace and Security in Times of Transition Camilla Buzzi

    2. Women in the Myanmar Peace Process: The Thirty Percent Target Bishnu Raj Upreti, Drishti Upreti and Debendra Prasad Adhikari

    3. Women-to-Women Diplomacy and the Women’s League of Burma Magda Lorena Cardenas

    4. No Peace in a Ceasefire: Women’s Agency in the Kachin Conflict Marte Nilsen

    5. Women’s Participation in Peacebuilding: Views from Mon Rural Communities Myint Myint Mon

    6. Women Survivor’s Experiences of War and Perspectives on Peace in Myanmar S. Hkawng Naw

    7. Women in Myanmar’s Ethnic Armed Organizations: Numbers and Narratives Åshild Kolås and Leitanthem Umakanta Meitei

    8. Women’s ‘Marginal Voices’: Diverse Perspectives on Peace and Security in Myanmar Elena Di Padova

    Biography

    Åshild Kolås is a Social Anthropologist and Research Professor at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), Norway.