Conclusion ./ N A 5 & *+,-% Despite promises of reform, the realisation of the right to freedom of expression and information is long overdue in Myanmar. Newspapers, while now freer to report, cover on a daily basis numerous stories about human rights defenders, protesters, political activists, journalists and others being attacked, arrested or imprisoned for what they have expressed, whether on the streets, in the press or online. Arguably, women in Myanmar have a greater need for the right to freedom of expression and information because, in addition to the general issues that affect everybody in the country, they need particular information and have to challenge many discriminatory and oppressive practices. Unfortunately, however, they face multiple barriers when using this right, both because they are women and because they are speaking out on gender-related issues. Voicing opinions on gender-related issues is often sensitive in Myanmar. Whilst the government is often the main censor on most topics, gender-related issues often elicit a backlash, physical and otherwise, from others, the self-declared ‘defenders’ of ‘Myanmar culture’. Although the right to culture is an important human right, culture itself is not static but constantly evolving and changing, and should not be used to censor others. Whether for political or cultural reasons, the government and employers in their attempt to protect women from gender-based violence, both physical and otherwise revert to restricting women – in effect stopping them - rather than enabling or empowering them. Indeed, the few institutions, remedies and protective measures that should exist in Myanmar to protect women from violence often make the situation worse. Violence is not the only factor preventing women from participating in governance or civil society. Women are largely invisible at the senior level of all sectors, particularly in government and parliament, and as a result are excluded from decision making. Women’s gender and sexual identity are often used to exclude them from civic space. Those women who are visible are often not independent, either from the government or the military. The media is another area where women are excluded from decision making and ‘protected’ rather than empowered. The representation of women in the Myanmar media is highly stereotypical, a reflection of the lack of women at decision making level. Broadcasters in particular repeat these stereotypes widely and do little to address the concerns of modern day women. The media trade unions, too, have yet to include women fully. The government, like the broadcasters, fails to make proper provision for information relevant to women. Although it is true that the government provides almost no information to anyone regardless of gender, there are additional cultural barriers for women. In addition, women are disproportionately affected by a lack of information on many topics, particularly sexual and reproductive health. The government has made a commitment to tackling many of these gender-related issues in its National Strategic Plan for the Advancement of Women. However, it has done very little to implement its promises. The participants in this report highlighted many issues of ARTICLE 19 - Censored gender: Women’s right to freedom of expression and information in Myanmar - Page 84