42"*Q;L=<B%S ?:%&(/5:%:A$+"&>)/ '>-%7=%'73QO'!B%&$+"&():;% '!/5&>$+"&= 23#%2-%!3"68-"9/5*3:;%
():;% <#:%&'*+=%'2=%>?@*3:;%=/5 #/5&8$):;%="=3?%6-&>.% T-60():;% e62;45A&#$%&$+"&=/5
$B%</5P8-:%9:% >$B%=/5 !T%&!"&2"L=<B%S
?:%&():;%!-%2+T%&] !A*+/.%!AFC.%&$+"&*+$)#%Y-H& =+:;%<5A&7/5P'"&6-&>.% ARTICLE 19 =/5 `jsn *5()!%#3:%
73QO!B%&#B%64":%*Q;-1<B%S =$x"#E)$%&>)/[5A&$+"&():;% *+/#%9=%=" 23#%2-%!3"68-"9/5*3:;%U
0HN+!%#?% '*3:;%'6>&():;% 73AOY7/,&6>&9/5:%>" -1E:%25-%69":%$M#/5PI =+d&23.%6<"8-!%$M$+"&():;%
9=%!-%8-^."$+"&=/5 E/5:%&E.%&'687>)"L=-1<B%S `jsn$)!] '*+/,O6<"6D&7?%*A
2@P'</5:%&'E/5:%&'!/#%'-/5:%&#/5PI<" 87!%6-X##%<B;% *+/,&67"=%$M$+"&=/5 'e/='"[5A!/5=%
25-%69":%*Q;-1<B%S (/5:%:A$+"&I 2@P'*3:;%'6>& #"E.%$+"& -+=%=3=%2!%\:%&##%*+/.%=/5
."&2B%7/5OW=/,&!"&>:%& 6D&7?%*A#/5PJ 2/5'-%*+=%=/5 $87B;%#:%&(/5:%8*:%&6L=":;% (/5:%:A$+"&'6.87:;%
#$:%*3Q8*"&9=%9A$M8-,6.8*:%&62"U 87!%6.8*:%&62"=/5 >B%>3?%*+=%4"&=" '687>)"L=-1<B%S
Z!"#$%&<B% ARTICLE 19 $) ?*:%=8-,25-%*Q;6<" 2/:%<D"E9=%(3?%8-^.">-%$+"&
9/5:%>" !"#$%&$+"&J6."=%9=%#3Q 87!%-1<B%S ?*:%!"#$%&$+":%
-H[@&(/5:%:A6."=%9=%#3Q<#:%& >?@*3:;%U DN|2"&60;>)%(/5:%:AI '$+/,&<$H&N+".?%2!%$+"&'"&
*3Q8*"&9=%9A$MU [5>)(/5:%:AI 2/:%$M9/5:%>"2@.B%&!5 #=%}=3<B;%'5-%!5$+"&="=3?%6>&U 8-:%<!%(/5:%:AI
$+=%()"Y*,A-E1 #"&9H&-/#%-:%$M():;% =52<$Ng 2@P'*3:;%'6>&6=":%!HI [5/&>"'!T%'2"#.%7/5&$+"&
="=3?%6>&#/5P=/5 62;2"9.%&!!%*Q;-1<B%S
ARTICLE 19 >.%=5.% [5A&*3Q=/5 _G`a*5()!%#3:% 73:;%2)!%*Q;Y-H& '<3:%=@&68-":%&6>&(/5:%:A$+"&I (/5::
% A#="
!A*+/.%!AFC.%&$+"&():;%'BH T-608-:%9:%6>&25-%69":%$M=/5 'e/=L=-%$#%=@BH-1<B%S
?:%&</5P8-,8*:%&87:;% 8$.%$"(/5:%:AI 0H$/5=6>!H2@P6D":%#B%69"=%6>&=/5 '8*"&<@$+"&():;%'#@
=@BH25-%69":% 6-&2+=%>)/-1<B%S
Methodology
The research for this report was conducted in 2014 and 2015 and used primarily
qualitative methods. Building upon desk-based research, ARTICLE 19 conducted detailed,
in-depth interviews with 30 key participants from relevant civil society backgrounds, and
held two roundtables in Yangon in 2014 and 2015 with 20 further participants to elicit
discussion on the findings. Research was carried out with due regard to the ethical
principles of confidentiality, informed consent, and only where we were sure that we would
not put the individual concerned at risk.
The majority of the interviews were conducted in the capital, Yangon, although others were
carried out in Pyay Township, a limiting decision made primarily due to budgetary
constraints. The team initially conducted internal exploratory mapping of prima facie
gender-based issues in Myanmar before identifying individuals who were likely to have the
most substantive experience and interest in each issue. Key participants were selected
across a range of professional and other backgrounds to ensure a diversity of opinions.
The in-depth interviews enabled key participants to share their experiences and perceptions
by telling their stories in their own words, and were supplemented by the two roundtables.
Qualitative methods were used to open up discussions on abstract and subjective concerns,
ARTICLE 19 - Censored gender: Women’s right to freedom of expression and information in Myanmar - Page 3