11:00 AM - 01:00 PM
In her presentation, Tay Tay discussed women’s unique contributions to political developments in Burma and used her experiences as an activist to highlight the indispensable role played by multi-ethnic women’s groups along Burma’s borders in the country’s struggle for democracy. She identified opportunities available to women in light of the current opening in Burma, as well as obstacles hindering the advancement of women, regardless of their ethnicity or social status. She concluded with recommendations on how stakeholders can foster an enabling environment that protects and promotes women in a democratic Burma.
11:00 AM - 02:00 PM
In his presentation, Abdulrazaq Alkali provided an overview of the state of youth activism in Nigeria today. He surveyed the steps being taken to; engage youth, identify barriers to their participation, and offer recommendations to increase their involvement in decision-making processes. His presentation was followed by comments by Dave Peterson.
02:00 PM - 03:30 PM
The launch of CIMA’s newest report, South Africa’s Media 20 Years After Apartheid, and a discussion about the role of media development in democratic transitions in southern Africa. Panelists focused on the importance of media development in the region, the challenges of the past 20 years, and how to work for a more open and diverse media environment throughout the region.