Activists highlight safety concerns for women in post-coup Myanmar

By Admin 05 Aug 2023

DMG Newsroom
5 August 2023, Sittwe
 
Female activists say the rule of law is broken in Myanmar and that the safety of women is of utmost concern.
 
An official from the Women’s League of Burma (WLB) said women are losing their lives and feeling unsafe due to arrests, torture and killings by junta soldiers since the February 2021 coup, as well as aerial bombings and widespread displacement.
 
“Right now, women are not safe no matter where they live,” said Ma Nan Moe Moe, secretary general of the WLB.
 
The Burmese Women’s Union (BWU) released a statement on August 3 indicating that 590 women were killed from February 1, 2021, to July 27, 2023, due to the actions of the military junta.
 
According to figures compiled by the BWU, Bago, Sagaing and Tanintharyi regions, and Chin and Shan states, have had the highest number of female fatalities.
 
The BWU figures show that 3,647 women have been punished for their anti-coup activities.
 
“The junta soldiers are really committing war crimes against women,” Ma Nan Moe Moe said. “In conflicts, there are bombings targeting women and children. Absolutely any attack on women and children is a war crime under international law.”
 
Women’s rights activists also say sexual violence against women by junta soldiers is getting worse.
 
“The military regime is responsible for all the human rights violations committed so far,” said an official from the BWU. “Therefore, we are struggling to prosecute the military junta internationally. BWU will work together with other relevant groups to get justice for the victims so that the perpetrators can be punished.”
 
DMG attempted to contact regime spokesman Major-General Zaw Min Tun for comment on the matter, but he could not be reached.
 
According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), 3,888 people died at the hands of Myanmar’s military regime from the beginning of the February 2021 coup to August 4, 2023. The junta has detained a total of 24,212 people for real or perceived opposition to the coup since February 1, 2021, AAPP said.