Report: A Gender Analysis of the Right to a Nationality in Myanmar

In 2017, UNHCR and UN Women partnered to conduct a gender analysis of the right to a nationality in Myanmar. This was implemented by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), along with local CSO The Seagull, the Statelessness Network Asia Pacific (SNAP) and the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion (ISI). The report was launched on 7 March 2018 as part of a series of events celebrating International Women’s Day. Conducted in Mawlamyine, Mandalay and Yangon, the study included participants from a diverse group of profiles, including ethnic and religious minorities. Key findings indicated that women, in contrast to men, face a number of barriers in acquiring citizenship documentation and conferring citizenship on their children. This comes as a result of challenges in accessing information, family preferences to have male members of the household prioritised, and the implementation of the four race and religion bills. In addition, certain profiles of women, such as unmarried mothers or women engaged in commercial sex work, may face further discrimination when approaching authorities.