Khin Ohmar

Founder and chairwoman Progressive Voice, a Myanmar human rights organization

Region(s): Asia
Country of focus: Myanmar

Details

Current Occupation: Founder and chairwoman Progressive Voice, a Myanmar human rights organization
Organization/Institution: Progressive Voice
Language: English, Burmese

Media

Russian-Backed Junta Destroys 75,000 Homes in Devastating War of Fire Newsweek Aug 9, 2023

Japan needs to sack Sasakawa and stand with the people of Myanmar Opinion Myanmar Now Jun 14, 2023

Time to reframe ASEAN five-point consensus in line with ASEAN Charter Jakarta Post Apr 11, 2023

Myanmar’s neglected crisis demands a different response The New Humanitarian Feb 1, 2023

New law in Myanmar puts Europe’s humanitarian aid at risk Deutsche Welle Nov 25, 2022

Calls grow for Indonesia to engage with Myanmar’s NUG as incoming ASEAN chair Jakarta Post Nov 7, 2022

The National Unity Government cannot afford to ignore past injustices if it truly seeks to free Myanmar from military rule Myanmar Now Aug 24, 2022

Myanmar leader shops for support, weapons in Moscow Al Jazeera Jul 17, 2022

‘Painful’ Myanmar engagement sows rage as ASEAN seeks envoy Nikkei Asia Jun 8, 2021

UN and ASEAN risk helping Myanmar junta weaponise aid Mizzima June 1, 2022

To stop Russian aggression, US must act on Myanmar Myanmar Now May 13, 2022

Myanmar’s democrats must be allowed to attend the UN Human Rights Council South Asian Monitor Mar 12, 2022

Should emergency aid be neutral and unconditional? New Internationalist Mar 2, 2022

Experts: Sanctions Against Myanmar Not Enough to Bring About Change VOA Feb 3, 2022

Myanmar women take the lead in resisting the military DW Deutsche Welle Feb 1, 2022

In Myanmar, military leaders will meet with visiting Cambodian prime minister NPR Jan 7, 2022

Aung San Suu Kyi Falls, but Myanmar’s Democratic Hopes Move On New York Times Dec 7, 2021

UN Security Council expresses concern over Myanmar crisis ABC News Nov 11, 2021

ASEAN urged to take ‘decisive step’ by recognising Myanmar’s NUG Al Jazeera Oct 27, 2021

UN urged to retain Kyaw Moe Tun as Myanmar ambassador Al Jazeera Sep 13, 2021

The National Unity Government cannot afford to ignore past injustices if it truly seeks to free Myanmar from military rule Oped Myanmar Now Aug 24, 2021

ASEAN urged to address Myanmar crises, as special envoy named Al Jazeera Aug 4, 2021

There’s nothing neutral about engaging with Myanmar’s military The New Humanitarian July 28, 2021

Humanitarian crisis worsening in Myanmar’s ethnic minority areas, panel says UPI June 4, 2021

Myanmar junta blocking humanitarian aid for displaced people, NGOs say La Prenza June 4, 2021

The women’s revolution: what the coup means for gender equality in Myanmar Equal Times May 7, 2021

Myanmar coup opponents win new support in ethnic borderlands Reuters Mar 23, 2021

Khin Ohmar (@KhinOhmar) is founder and chairwoman of the Advisory Board of Progressive Voice (@PVamplify), a Myanmar human rights organization that amplifies resistance to the Feb. 1, 2021 military coup in Myanmar.

She has been frequently honoured with awards for her global activism for Myanmar since her involvement as a student organizing the “8888 Uprising” – Aug. 8, 1988  – nationwide pro-democracy protests against the military dictatorship that brutally killed about 3,000 peaceful protesters, followed by years of shutting down universities and imprisoning thousands.  She escaped after the violent crackdown and continued her activism for democracy from exile since then. She was a founding member of the Women’s League of Burma and served as vice chair of the Burmese Women’s Union, one of the 12 member organizations in the Women’s League of Burma.

Progressive Voice  collects and archives statements, reports, laws, analyses, petitions and other relevant documents pertaining to the Feb. 1 military coup in Myanmar from various actors. This includes, but is not limited to, Myanmar civil society organizations, political parties, ethnic armed organizations, protest leaders, existing government ministries and bodies, the military and its newly formed military bodies, and international actors.

Progressive Voice is a human rights research and advocacy organization that is rooted in and maintains strong networks and relationships with rights-based civil society organizations, grassroots networks and community-based organizations throughout Myanmar. It acts as a bridge to the international community and international policymakers by amplifying voices from the ground, and advocating for a rights-based policy narrative in collaboration and partnership.

Progressive Voice,’ or in Burmese, ရှေ့ပြေးအသံ ‘Shay Pyay Athan,’ was born in 2016  out of Burma Partnership, a network of organizations throughout the Asia-Pacific region established in 2006 to advocate for and mobilize a movement for democracy and human rights in Myanmar, where Khin served as coordinator until it transcended to Progressive Voice in 2016.

Among Khin’s awards noted on her profile at the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict are the Capital Area Peace Maker Award (American University; 1997), Refugee Leader of Promise Award (Women’s Commission on Refugee Women and Children; 1997); Anna Lindh Award (Anna Lindh Memorial Foundation; 2008); Global Leadership Award for Human Rights (Vital Voices; 2008); and Young Women’s Peace Award (Democracy Today; 2018).