For more than four decades, Karen (ethnic group) communities have lived with the consequences of armed conflict in eastern Myanmar. Particularly since 1984, families have crossed into Thailand seeking safety, and today seven refugee camps along the Thai–Myanmar border remain home to generations of displaced Karen people.
And at the centre of all of this, women have been consistently organising their communities. The Karen Women’s Organization (KWO) is an indigenous women’s mass organisation with tens of thousands of members across Kawthoolei (Karen traditional lands) in Myanmar and in the refugee camps in Thailand. For over 40 years, KWO has provided health, education, social welfare, and organising support, while building women’s political leadership through a democratic structure in which leaders are elected at every level.
Union Aid Abroad– APHEDA partners with KWO to strengthen women’s capacity to lead community development, participate in decision-making and advocate for the rights of Karen communities.
Organising amidst conflict
Since the military coup of 1 February 2021, conflict and displacement have intensified. More than one million internally displaced people from Karen State and central Myanmar are now sheltering in areas under the control of the Karen National Union (KNU).
In 2025, humanitarian pressures deepened sharply. Major cuts to international aid and the dismantling of USAID resulted in severe reductions in food assistance across refugee camps and the closure of health services at several sites. Families already living in fragile conditions faced new layers of insecurity.
But at the same time, in the areas where KWO is present, new local governance systems are being developed, creating important opportunities to influence emerging structures to be more inclusive and gender-just – but only if women are equipped to participate.
Strengthening women’s leadership at every level
Over the past year, despite insecurity and travel restrictions, KWO delivered an extensive capacity-building and leadership-development program. Over the year, 268 training days were conducted across 14 sites, reaching 5,956 participants.
Training for women leaders and staff at the central, district, and refugee camp levels covered women’s leadership, organisational management, public speaking, human rights, gender equality, Indigenous peoples’ rights, child protection, financial management, report writing, and psychosocial wellbeing.
At the Central level, program management workshops strengthened coordination, oversight and reporting systems. Across seven refugee camps, KWO delivered 51 days of training to 169 women leaders and staff, along with team-building and self-care sessions. In Kawthoolei, 57 days of training reached 304 women leaders and staff across seven districts and one IDP site.
Excitingly, in Kler Lwee Htu District, KWO established new organisational structures in 20 village tracts, significantly expanding women-led governance in resistance-controlled areas.
Building active membership
KWO continued rolling out its “Be an Active KWO Member” program, delivering 61 sessions over 73 days and reaching 2,052 members. Leaders reported stronger participation, with members more actively volunteering and contributing ideas.
Also, 58 community awareness sessions reached 2,975 women and men, focusing on human rights, gender equality, women’s leadership and child protection. Trainers observed growing confidence among participants in speaking up and applying rights-based knowledge in daily life.
One of the Training of Trainers said:
“Before joining KWO, I was unaware of my rights and often felt unable to respond when others spoke to me. However, through my work with KWO and the various trainings I have attended, I have gained confidence in speaking publicly and providing training to the community. This experience has been very important and beneficial for my work with KWO.”
— Mu Mu, Training of Trainers Participant
Organising for resilience and democratic change
In a context of shrinking civic space, displacement and humanitarian uncertainty, strengthening women’s collective leadership is both protective and transformative.
As KWO members, Karen women are not only responding to the crisis. They are strengthening democratic practice from the ground up – building the confidence, systems and solidarity needed to shape a more just and inclusive future for their communities.