Project profile — Building a Culture of Peaceful Pluralism in Myanmar and Sri Lanka, Phase II

• Sri Lanka (44.54%)
• Myanmar (55.46%)

• Government And Civil Society, General: Human rights (15160) (50.00%)
• Conflict Prevention And Resolution, Peace And Security: Civilian peace-building, conflict prevention and resolution (15220) (50.00%)

• Gender equality (principal objective)
• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (not targeted)
• Participatory development and good governance (not targeted)
• Trade development (not targeted)
• Biodiversity (not targeted)
• Climate change mitigation (not targeted)
• Climate Change Adaptation (not targeted)
• Urban issues (not targeted)
• Desertification (not targeted)
• Children's issues (not targeted)
• Youth Issues (not targeted)
• Disaster Risk Reduction(DRR) (not targeted)
• Indigenous Issues (not targeted)
• Disability (not targeted)
• Nutrition (not targeted)
• ICT as a tool for development (not targeted)

This project aims to tackle rising hate speech and disinformation that is fueling ethnic and religious extremism, violence, and conflict in Myanmar and Sri Lanka. Building on Phase I of this project, which works to establish a cross-border cohort of journalists and activists to respond and report on peaceful pluralism issues, Phase II aims to solidify gains achieved, and further expand participant skills, collaboration, and networking in both countries. Project activities include: (1) furthering the skills of women that were trained on peaceful pluralism issues in Phase I, now as mentors; (2) providing training to a core cadre of women journalists and activists on digital safety and security to respond to contextual and gender challenges; (3) organizing cross-culture media exchanges and supporting technical story productions; (4) building the capacity of youth in peaceful pluralism, media, and civil society; and (5) expanding national and regional networks by providing an open space to discuss religious and ethnic diversity issues between media, women journalists, activists and other stakeholders.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) positive changes in public opinion on issues of religious freedom and ethnic diversity issues in support of peaceful pluralism in Myanmar and Sri Lanka; (2) increased access to high quality information about religious freedom, human rights and ethnic or religious diversity; and (3) increased capacity of journalists and activists, particularly women, to report safely on issues of religious freedom, human rights and ethnic or religious diversity; and (3) increased national engagement between media and key stakeholders focused on issues of religious freedom, human rights and ethnic or religious diversity.

Results achieved as of March 2022 include: (1)increased access to high-quality content or information about religious freedom, human rights and ethnic/religious diversity; (2) increased inclusiveness (including gender inclusion) of media content/information focused on issues of religious freedom, human rights and ethnic diversity; (3) improved national and regional engagement between direct beneficiaries & key stakeholders working on religious freedom, human rights and religious or ethnic diversity; and (4) four women and nine men produced 13 stories on religious freedom, human rights, and ethnic or religious diversity.

• Proactive disclosure