Published March 2026

Women-led and women-serving civil society organizations (CSOs) play a vital role in sustaining communities, advancing gender equality, and responding to humanitarian and social needs across Myanmar, particularly in conflict areas. Women leaders have long been central to civic engagement, often working at the frontlines of policy and humanitarian work.

Since the military coup in February 2021, however, the operating environment for civil society has deteriorated sharply. Women leaders now face intensified pressures that are reshaping how they lead and operate.

The contraction of civic space has profoundly altered civil society across the country. Restrictive laws, heightened surveillance, and direct interference by authorities now characterize the post-coup context. CSOs increasingly operate under unclear legal and administrative frameworks, limiting public participation and constraining rights and advocacy work. In response, many CSOs have reduced activities or shifted toward less politically sensitive programming in order to survive.

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For women-led CSOs, these constraints intersect with persistent gender norms and discrimination, amplifying both organizational vulnerability and personal risk. Broader conflict dynamics further compound these challenges. While security measures do not always explicitly target women, they often disproportionately increase both risks and burdens borne by women leaders.

These pressures are not only operational. They directly affect well-being. Leadership roles increase exposure to surveillance, harassment, and reputational risk, particularly in heavily securitized environments. Women leaders must continuously assess risks related to public engagement while simultaneously managing responsibilities to staff, families, and communities. Gender-based discrimination adds another layer, as women leaders often face skepticism regarding their authority, alongside disproportionate caregiving demands.

This assessment draws on surveys conducted by local experts with 60 women-led CSOs across Myanmar. Using both quantitative and qualitative data, it examines three key areas:

• Legal, operational, and security challenges facing women-led CSOs
• Safety and protection risks experienced by women leaders
• Coping strategies and adaptive approaches used to sustain operations

The analysis also highlights how risks vary across community-based organizations (CBOs), local and national NGOs, and informal networks, and how sectoral focus, including human rights and public health, shapes exposure and response strategies.

By centering women’s voices and experiences, this analysis aims to inform gender-responsive recommendations to support women’s leadership in Myanmar’s challenging civic space environment.