14th March 2025
Beijing Platform for action 30 years and beyond: A critical review and future direction for Burma/Myanmar
By Moon Nay Li
Introduction
Our experiences on engaging Beijing Platform for action since the Beijing + 5 WLB attended CSW. I have a chance to attend the Beijing+10 to present the situation of young women in education, social issues, and politics as my very first international advocacy experience. I learned a great deal from the trip and built networks with women's organizations worldwide. After the trip, we enhanced the work of the Women’s League of Burma as it related to 12 critical areas of concern essential for achieving gender equality and women's empowerment, including poverty, education, health, violence, and political participation, specifically engaging at the decision-making levels.
Our Achievements
The Women’s League of Burma (WLB) was born from a shared vision—a commitment to justice, equality, and a federal democratic union. Over 25 years, WLB has evolved into a pillar of feminist federalism, uniting women from diverse ethnic and political backgrounds in a shared struggle for dignity and rights. However, this journey has not been easy.
From the margins of society—conflict zones, refugee camps, and exile—WLB has confronted immense challenges. Limited resources, gender-based violence, and systematic human rights violations have tested our commitment. Yet, these adversities have also strengthened our determination. We have navigated these barriers through resilience and solidarity, empowering women to lead within their communities and on the national stage.
When WLB was founded in 1999, it brought together 12 women’s organizations, each rooted in unique cultural and political experiences. The decision to declare WLB a political organization in 2002 was groundbreaking, establishing women as key actors in peacebuilding and governance. For over two decades, we have successfully advocated for women’s participation in political spaces, including achieving critical milestones such as gender quotas in legislative processes.
We, at WLB, have remained steadfast in our conviction that dismantling societal patriarchal systems that result in gender inequality is as crucial as ending military dictatorship. WLB’s international advocacy is equally important. By amplifying local voices on a global scale, we have highlighted the plight of women in Burma and held perpetrators accountable through international mechanisms. Through our submissions to the UN CEDAW Committee and by organizing the International Tribunal on Crimes Against the Women of Burma, we have established ourselves as a force for justice and accountability.