MNHRC’s decision to openly consult with civil society on its Draft Strategic Plan 2020-2024 demonstrates a willingness to conduct a real, substantive and open consultative process. FEM has reviewed the Draft on the basis of international standards and past experiences, and makes 5 positive recommendations
“We are very happy to see Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo freed after 18 months of imprisonment. This is a great day for them and their families. So many people in Myanmar and worldwide will be celebrating their release,” said FEM Director, Yin Yadanar
Across Myanmar, women human rights defenders (WHRDs) exercise their right to freedom of expression to expose discrimination and injustice, name-and-shame perpetrators, and speak uncomfortable truths to power. In doing so, they risk retaliation including physical, sexual, and psychological gender-based violence (GBV). The risk of GBV
What happens to those who speak out about “sensitive” issues online? What backlash do they face? And from whom? What risks do women face if they talk about sexual and reproduction rights? What happens when you raise LGBT rights? This is just one session at the
“Today’s decision to convict the Reuters journalists despite overwhelming evidence of their innocence is a travesty,” said Yin Yadanar Thein, Manager of Free Expression Myanmar. “The conviction shows the lengths to which the Myanmar state is willing to go to hide its wrongdoing. In the
The statement is in regards to the violent dispersal of a peaceful anti-war protest at the weekend. The statement includes some key points: The police’s denial for a protest to happen shows that the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law is not a notification regime
The freedom by which the media can investigate, access, and publish information, particularly that which is critical, is one of the best ways to measure the level of democracy in a country. Journalists know best how much freedom the media has, and can compare their
The media risks many threats when trying to report about conflicts. Many areas are completely off-limits. “Fake news” and “hate speech” are the result of a lack of trustworthy information. The Center for Myanmar Media Development and FEM hosted a day-long conference on 30 March
Free expression, access to information and media freedom are one of the first casualties in every conflict, including in Myanmar.[1] However, it is during conflicts that these rights are so important to defend. Without them, it is difficult to establish the truth about what is
FEM welcomes the military’s withdrawal today of criminal complaints against eight journalists, journalist sources and human rights defenders. The criminal provisions in the Penal Code, Telecommunications Law, and Unlawful Association Law, used to charge the eight people are not acceptable under international standards on the