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Myanmar's women seek greater role in politics

Conservative, patriarchal society hinders progress on gender equality
Myanmar's women seek greater role in politics

Nov. 8 elections scored a major win Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party and also saw an increase in female representation in Myanmar's parliament. (Photo by 360b/Shutterstock.com)

Published: March 08, 2016 09:24 AM GMT
Updated: March 08, 2016 09:24 AM GMT

Myanmar's female lawmakers are looking forward to playing a greater role in the new political landscape as significant numbers of women comprise the new parliament.

Women lawmakers make up 13 percent of elected seats — still the lowest number in Asia but an increase from the previous parliament. A March 2 report by the Asia Foundation said there were 66 female members of the national parliament and 79 female lawmakers at  state level.

Shila Nan Taung, a 62-year-old retired tutor told ucanews.com in Myanmar's conservative, patriarchal society women are still considered second-class citizens.

"Even at prayer meetings, men take seats with chairs but women sit on the floor; equality of men and women has yet to prevail," she said.

More steps are needed for greater female political participation, gender equality and women's rights, activists said.

"As a woman, I will be putting women's issues as the forefront and will work on achieving gender equality between men and women," Cin Ngaih Mang, a Christian and Upper House lawmaker from Chin state told the Yangon-based independent Media group, Myanmar Now.

 

Women involvement in peace

Women rights activists have noted an absence of female representatives in peace negotiations.

Shila Nan Taung, chairwoman of parliament's ethnic affairs committee, said that she once attended a peace conference in Yangon to find only three women among the participants.

She recalled visiting refugees in Kachin State, who asked her when they would return to their homes. "It touches my heart deeply and it was the main inspiration for me to [seek election]," she said.

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