“Myanmar has taken a bold decision to become a full democracy. To reach this ambitious goal, support from civil society is critical. It allows the inclusion of wider aspirations and ensures that the voices and needs of the people are heard. For a country with Myanmar’s history and current challenges, it is particularly important to give civil society the necessary space to promote equality, justice, fairness and peace” – said EU Ambassador Kristian Schmidt at the launch of the European Strategy for a Strengthened Partnership with Civil Society in Myanmar (2018-2020) on 4 April 2019 in Yangon. Since Myanmar’s democratic transition started in 2011, civil society in the country has undergone a major transformation. Today, civil society organisations (CSOs) across Myanmar are not only providing essential services but have increasingly become strong advocates of a wide range of causes and communities, including the ones that live in remote areas. The EU-CSO Partnership Strategy seeks to support the creation of an enabling environment for civil society to participate in policymaking and policy implementation processes at the local and national levels. The strategy is a follow up to the EU Roadmap for Engagement with Civil Society in Myanmar (2014-2017) and was developed through extensive consultations with civil society in across the country in 2018. The launch event hosted over 120 civil society organisations from Yangon and other regions of Myanmar, INGOs, representatives of EU member states, donors, research institutes and academia. Participants discussed the trends impacting civil society, as well as the steps needed to support, protect and promote civic space. The EU-CSO Partnership Strategy will be implemented over the next two years and will engage organisations in various forums to share research findings, analyze issues and develop policy recommendations based on themes prioritised by civil society. The EU-CSO Partnership Strategy will also support the outreach of civil society organisations through hosting civil society fairs and a newsletter. Delegation of the European Union to Myanmar (4/4/2019 News Stories)
European Strategy for a Strengthened Partnership with Civil Society in Myanmar
