May Thu Ne Win is a peacebuilder from Myanmar and a postgraduate student of social justice at the University of Sydney. IofC International recognised her “exceptional leadership” in trustbuilding, through the presentation of its annual Trustbuilding Award 2024. This is her story.
Overcoming patriarchal attitudes
I am the elder of two daughters—my sister is nine years younger than me. Being from a patriarchal society, I faced many struggles and challenges before graduating from medical school. Most men in my community exercise control and influence over women, even those in their extended family. I myself experienced discrimination and violence when I was growing up.
My mother was the youngest daughter of her parents, and was always dominated by her brothers. Yet, she always encouraged me to keep moving forward towards my goals. I had to fight for my choice of career path.
I believe everyone should be equal—fair and square. That’s why, when I had a chance to learn about gender issues, I really appreciated it. Gender equity is a strong foundation for ensuring human rights. Not only men but also women should have opportunities and rights.
Building trust at the grassroots
While at medical school in Yangon, I began providing family planning services and healthcare to HIV+ patients. Trustbuilding is important in clinical work because, when dealing with vulnerable patients, they may not even want to tell you that they are sick. Without trust, we cannot have good communication.
After graduating, I worked as a clinic team leader with an international organisation. My work was in conflict-affected areas where I was treating people from the Arakan and Rohingya minority groups. During this time, around 2008, I initiated the task of observing and collecting information about gender-based and sexual violence, espeically against Rohingya refugee women at the Myanmar-Bangladesh border.
Most ethnic minorities are afraid of Bamar people (the majority community in Myanmar). For building trust, we must first show transparency and accountability. So I would always begin my work by first explaining to them what our project was about, what were our objectives, and what kind of activities we wanted to do. People believed me and even told me confidential information that they had kept secret for many years. In all my dealings with others, I always try to act with a pure heart.
Advocating for gender equality
During the political transition period[1], I took part in gender equality networks to advocate on the situation of women in Myanmar. I conducted leadership training for women on mental empowerment, trustbuilding, peace and reconciliation. This was important for them to first gain confidence—without confidence in ourselves, we can’t build trust with others. My work helped ethnic minority women to access grants for their own self-help groups. Through collaboration, we developed curriculum resources and toolkits on gender equality, which were contextualized to the local situation.
I also began leading and facilitating a working group on international legal frameworks. I helped research and write the “shadow report” (an alternative assessment by civil society) on Myanmar’s progress toward implementing the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), a UN agreement that sets out a universal bill of rights for women.
The military coup of 2021 wwas a difficult time for us. I provided support for women leaders and their colleagues at the frontlines to help assure their mental wellbeing. Actually, we are not opposing the military. We just want to live in peaceful conditions and be able to express our thoughts freely.
In 2023 I received an Australia Awards scholarship to study an MA in social justice at the University of Sydney. Since coming to Australia, I began volunteering with the Creators of Peace network.
Working for a ‘peaceful revolution’
Through my involvement with Creators of Peace, I was recommended as a candidate for the 2024 Trustbuilding Award. In my application, I had to write about the kinds of activities I had done, and how I had built trust within local communities. I wrote about some of my career highlights too, including my teamwork towards developing a Strategic Framework for Accountability, Gender Equity and Social Inclusion in 2013, which resulted in a USD 36 million program for implementation of the Framework in Myanmar.
When I visited the US for the Trustbuidling Award ceremony in Richmond, Virginia, I met with peacebuilders from many countries. A personal highlight for me was getting to meet Rajmohan Gandhi, the grandson of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi.
I have always been inspired by Mahatma’s Gandhi’s vision of ‘peaceful revolution.’ India is close to Myanmar, so I think his ideas are relevant for us. In Richmond, I discussed with Rajmohan Gandhi how I intend to put into practice peace and conflict resolution in my country.
I will complete my MA course in November 2024. I plan to continue networking with different organisations working on peace and conflict in Australia. With ethnic minority communities in Myanmar, I plan to initiate some new projects, perhaps through organising Creators of Peace Circles. I hope to include some of the most vulnerable communities. Before we try to do peacebuilding, first we need to hear our own stories of trauma. We cannot neglect this, even though it is sensitive.
We should all treat each other with kindness, love and humanity.
[1] In the early 2010s, Myanmar’s military government began to relax the rules on political participation. After many years of house arrest, opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was released. She was elected to office in 2012.