Naw Sah Htoo

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Starting Point

As a civilian representative of the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC), Naw Sah Htoo participated in and acted as a mediator in peace-related processes. Around the year 2000, while attending the Government Technical Institute (GTI), she participated in a meeting with Kayin elders as a young Kayin representative. During that meeting, the elders discussed the need for peace in Kayin State and the presence of armed groups. Since she was young, she became more interested in peace-related issues. She joined the youth leadership programmes and attended peace-related training courses. 

She later contributed to peace efforts in Kayin State, supported initiatives, and eventually became involved in peace committees and civil society organisations. She believes that the ongoing conflict should end as soon as possible, and peace should be restored. Although she has not personally experienced gender discrimination within her family and environment as a woman, she has observed that other women face such issues. She believes that women’s rights should be firmly demanded by women themselves.

Peace Journey

She said that conflicts between the military and armed ethnic groups in the past were based on the hopes and political aspirations of the armed ethnic organisations. However, the current state of conflict is different from previous ones. It is now perceived as a nationwide political conflict. Relevant organisations are currently conducting informal meetings and negotiations among themselves. 

She has facilitated negotiations for a woman who was a victim of sexual violence. The incident involved a woman from the Kyaikmaraw township in Mon State. She was living with a soldier from an army unit under the South Eastern Command, but her partner refused to take responsibility. The victim reached out to her for assistance. Naw Sah Htoo worked with senior members of the relevant organisation and finally resolved the issue. Through JMC, she acted as a mediator between armed groups and the military, successfully reducing conflict tensions. 

Success Stories

She believes that her actions have achieved a certain level of success. This includes raising awareness about peace among the people in her community and, as a civilian, standing with the public to hold groups accountable that do not adhere to the NCA Code of Conduct (COC). Through these efforts, she feels that she has made a meaningful contribution. Through the arrangements made by the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC), she had the opportunity to attend peace-related workshops and discussions in China, the Philippines, and Cambodia. She conducted training sessions to educate civilians about land ownership. She led a team to successfully negotiate with a military unit stationed at a monastery in a village and convinced them that such stationing should not be done.  

As a lesson, she believes building trust based on mutual understanding is crucial for effective engagement. Women have the responsibility to balance their personal work with traditional roles and family duties in Myanmar. Therefore, understanding and support from their families and communities are essential. Additionally, it is necessary for women to participate in various areas of the peace process, as progress can only be made when both women and men are involved. Encouragement and advocacy for this participation are also needed. As a woman, she desires to participate and contribute in any capacity or sector she is assigned. 

As a challenge, during her time in JMC, she experienced discrimination both as a civilian representative and as a woman. And then there were no specific programs designated exclusively for women to overcome such discrimination. She believes that women’s participation in the peace process will offer more chances for a successful outcome.