Starting Point
Nilar Oo has been working with HD Centre since 2012, following the government's initiation of peace talks. After retiring as a university lecturer and starting to work in international organisations, she became involved in many negotiations, leading to a deep interest and participation in peace processes.
Many local armed organisations exist in the country now, and there should be coordination with all of them to achieve peace. Trust-building is needed for peace talks between ethnic armed groups and opposition armed groups to end conflicts. Since 2012, the government has initiated peace efforts to reduce conflicts. She assumes that all those involved in peace efforts work with peace as their primary focus. There are still challenges in building trust. Personally, she admires Queen Elizabeth as her female role model.
Peace Journey
She is still actively involved in mediation and peacebuilding. Women should participate in all sectors of the peace process so that their views are considered in policy-making. To this end, women need to be well-prepared and knowledgeable. Opportunities must be created, and educational programs must be provided to increase women's participation. Additionally, sufficient funding is required to enable continuous efforts.
Success Stories
She has travelled to various regions for negotiation and trained women for capacity building. Successes include creating peace talk platforms, facilitating group communication, amplifying minority voices, and conducting NCA awareness activities.