Khin Ohmar
Ms. Khin Ohmar is an experienced peace and security advocate from Myanmar and Founder and Chairperson of the Advisory Board of Progressive Voice, a research and advocacy organization with strong civil society networks in Myanmar and across the ASEAN region. For the past 30 years, she has worked with fellow Burmese democracy activists as well as with ethnic women and youth from conflict-affected areas in Myanmar, including Kachin, Karen, Lahu and Rohingya. In 2008, Ms. Ohmar won the Anna Lindh Prize, awarded annually to a woman or young person with "the courage to fight indifference, prejudice, oppression and injustices in order to promote a good life for all people in an environment marked by respect for human rights." The award citation stated, "Her courageous and visionary work is a source of inspiration for all those engaged in the struggle for human rights and for a life of dignity." She also won the 2008 Vital Voices Global Leadership Award for Human Rights, which she shared with Shan Women's Action Network activist Charm Tong. US First Lady Laura Bush, the award's presenter, described Khin Ohmar as "one of the strongest voices against Burma's violent regime."
"Serious international crimes continue to be committed throughout Myanmar…Yet no one is being held to account as the military continues to act with total impunity. Domestic accountability is not possible in Myanmar. I urge the Security Council to refer the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court."
(Photo: Forum Asia)
At the Security Council
Ms. Khin Ohmar was selected to represent civil society at the UN Security Council Open Debate on Sexual Violence in Conflict in July 2020. She spoke in her capacity as an an experienced peace and security advocate from Myanmar, Founder and Chairperson of the Advisory Board of Progressive Voice, and on behalf of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security.