Asia

Myanmar’s transition to democracy has earned the country a lot of appraisal on the international stage. But over the last year, the boundaries between what is permitted and what will get people in trouble slid back and blurred again.

The provincial level resource equity dialogs were initiated based on the recommendations from the Federal level dialog on resource equity. The topic for each dialog at provincial level was selected around the water, land and energy nexus which was defined through the federal level dialog. The framework of each dialog was set around hbs' resource equity memo-“Resource Politics for a Fair Future”, so that the participants could be introduced to the global debate on resource equity.  Province-specific ecological case studies were also shared based on the book titled “Water in the Wilderness” to create a wider understanding of the basic ecological landscape of the province.  

Political transition in Myanmar from a military to a civilian government holds the promise of opening up political spaces to previously marginalized groups. However, the dividend of the country’s democratization process seems to be still far off for the LGBTI community.

Political empowerment of women cannot be made possible without changing the patriarchal mindset within political parties, participants at a consultation on “Gender Action Manifesto” highlighted. The consultation was held in Karachi on April 20, 2017as part of a series of such activities being organsied by the Heinrich Boell Stiftung (hbs) at provincial and national level under its “Gender Action Manifesto” project.

It is difficult to have peace if you do not move your positions. We were talking with Dr. Sai Oo over the opportunities for a constructive peace conference. He is the Country Representative of Pyidaungsu Institute for peace and dialogue in Yangon, Myanmar.

Against the backdrop of persistent ethnic tensions, the second round of the peace conference of Burmese government, army (Tatmadaw) and ethnic minorities begins on 24 May in Myanmar. The political internal climate and the relationship of Aung San Suu Kyi to the international community projected its shadows ahead.

Heinrich Boell Stiftung in collaboration with Sustainable Development Policy Institute held a panel titled, “Sustainable Energy Solutions for the Region” at the Sustainable Development Conference in December 2016.  The objective of the panel was to foster learning around renewable energies across countries in Asia in the wake of climate change and increased demand for energy due to population increase and development plans.

Under the umbrella of the Regional Green Dialogs project and in collaboration with Vasl Artists’ Collective, from April 6th to May 12th, 2017 an arts residency with five artists from Afghanistan and Pakistan is taking place in Karachi. For six weeks, the participants explore the concept of Social Sculpture that evolved from the broad understanding of art of the German artist Joseph Beuys who said ‘Every Human Being can be an Artist’. Professor Shelley Sacks, Director of the Social Sculpture Research Unit at Oxford Brookes University, UK is mentoring the residency. The artists’ works were installed on public places in Karachi and involved the general public.

The resource equity dialog held in Quetta, Balochistan on 21st April 2016, highlighted the issues around resource equity and development projects. The key question raised by the academia, civil society and researchers present at the dialog.

In 2010, by means of 18th amendment to the constitution of Pakistan, provinces were made autonomous. This amendment opened up an opportunity to rethink and formulate provincial level policies across board. Civil society in this regard has been acting as a support for the provincial governments. Bargad-Organization for Youth Development initiated a process of supporting provinces (Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) in formulating youth development policies. hbs being a green foundation considered it worthwhile to support Bargad in launching of the environmental component of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa youth development policy on 29th November 2016. Following are some of the pictures from the event.