The Institute for Peace and Social Justice (IPSJ), in partnership with the Ayeyarwaddy Interim Measures Drafting Commission, announced today the completion of a comprehensive training program titled “Federalism and Constitution-Making (Federal Dialogue Series – 1/2026).”
Running from March 18 to March 31, 2026, the two-week intensive series aims to equip the Ayeyarwaddy Commission and regional stakeholders with the essential knowledge needed to establish the foundation for a future federal democratic union.
The main goal of the dialogue is to empower local leaders, policymakers, and civil society members from the Ayeyarwaddy Federal Unit with advanced principles of comparative federalism, local governance, and constitutional drafting.
The inaugural session began with remarks from Dr. Thaung Htun, Executive Director of IPSJ, along with the Chairman of the Interim Measures Commission from the Ayeyarwaddy Federal Unit.
Throughout the program, participants took part in in-depth lectures and discussions led by renowned experts and scholars.
- U Khin Mang Win led sessions on Comparative Federalism, discussing important topics like the division of power among three levels of government, minority rights beyond statehood, bicameralism as a solution to minority issues, and the differences between winner-takes-all and cooperative government systems.
- Dr. Thaung Htun discussed The Role of Local Governance in a Federal System, highlighting decentralization and grassroots empowerment, Fiscal Federalism, and Basic principles on developing a Natural Resources Management & Revenue Sharing Policy.
- Dr. Daisy Kris led discussions on Constitutionalism and Constitution-Making, establishing a new Constituent Unit and navigating the complexities of Judicial Federalism.
- Dr. Kenton led the discussion on the Comparative Study on Resource Management in the Federal System.
The “Federal Dialogue Series 1/2026” hosted 31 diverse participants who are vital to the region’s transitional governance. The group includes elected Hluttaw (Parliament) representatives, Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) professionals such as teachers and civil servants, political party members, ethnic youth leaders, and members of the National Unity Government (NUG) and Ethnic Revolutionary Organizations (EROs).
“To build a resilient and inclusive federal democracy, we must ensure that those responsible for drafting our interim measures and future constitutions possess a deep understanding of federal frameworks,” said Dr. Thaung Htun, Executive Director of IPSJ. “This dialogue guarantees that the voices and structural needs of the Ayeyarwaddy Federal Unit are effectively incorporated into the broader democratic movement.”
By uniting a diverse group of leaders from the Ayeyarwaddy region—many of whom have made significant personal sacrifices in the CDM—the IPSJ and the Ayeyarwaddy Interim Measures Drafting Commission are taking a concrete step toward turning democratic hopes into effective, fair governance structures.
About the Organizers:
The Institute for Peace and Social Justice (IPSJ) is a leading policy and advocacy organization focused on capacity building, federalism, agricultural reform, and social justice in Myanmar. The Ayeyarwaddy Interim Measures Drafting Commission is the regional body responsible for developing the transitional governance and constitutional framework for the Ayeyarwaddy Federal Unit.
