Myanmar

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From 2013 through 2020, The Carter Center observed elections, strengthened civil society, and increased women’s participation in politics as the country attempted to transition from military rule to democracy.

Impact

Identified serious flaws during election observation missions in 2015 and 2020
Provided training and support for voter education campaigns
Offered workshops on monitoring social media for election threats
Engaged women in the peace and reconciliation process

Legacy

Democracy

We established an office in Yangon in October 2013 and began our election observation work in December 2014.

Our Work and Methods

For the 2015 general elections — a major milestone in Myanmar’s transition to democratic rule — we deployed teams of long-term observers, a large team of short-term observers, and a core team of experts. We kept a small team in Myanmar into 2016 to monitor postelection activities.

For Yangon’s first municipal elections under a universal suffrage system in 2019, we supported local civil society groups as they conducted a voter education campaign. We also provided training to other civil society organizations working on elections, including through workshops on monitoring social media for digital threats to elections.

In November 2020, 43 Carter Center observers visited 234 polling stations in 10 states and regions.

Impacts

We were able to make specific recommendations for addressing gaps and legal impediments.
We supported local organizations to observe elections and educate voters, ensuring long-term engagement in the democratic process.
Our 2020 election observation team reiterated the need for constitutional reforms to address ongoing challenges to voting.

More information about all of these elections is available in our publications section.

This project ended in 2020.

Conflict between the military and ethnic armed groups has gone on for decades in Myanmar, despite attempts at peace and reconciliation.

The Carter Center and the Women’s League of Burma jointly implemented a program called “Broadening Participation of Women of Ethnic Political Parties in the Peace Process” in 2018 and 2019.

Our Work and Methods

The program included a needs assessment survey, training for women on mediation and peace negotiation, and a national dialogue conference.

Impacts

Alongside our partners, we developed a set of documents to support broader participation of women of ethnic political parties.
Empowering women to fully participate in the process marked a significant step toward an inclusive and sustainable peace.

This project ended in 2019.