Female MPs-elect to focus on IDP, women’s issues in upcoming legislative sessions

By Min Tun 22 Dec 2020

Min Tun | DMG
22 December 2020, Sittwe

Most internally displaced people in Arakan State’s IDP (internally displaced person) camps are women, and Arakanese female parliamentarians and women’s civil society groups say they will work together to support the government in ensuring the safety of displaced women.

Daw Nyo Aye, chair of the Rakhine Women’s Network, said Arakanese female MPs-elect who won in the November 2020 general election would be urged to take action in the parliamentary arena on the issues affecting displaced women.

“Since there are so many women in the IDP camps, I will push women MPs to tell them what has been done and what is intended to be done for them. I will also tell women lawmakers about the needs of displaced women,” she said.

Based on last month’s election results, the women MPs-elect caucus in Arakan State amounts to two in the state legislature, one in the Lower House and one in the Upper House, for a total of four.

More than 30,000 IDPs in Arakan State are estimated to have returned home in recent weeks as the conflict between the military and the Arakan Army has eased, but some 190,000 are still living at IDP camps and other displacement sites, according to the Rakhine Ethnics Congress (REC).

More than 60% of IDPs are women, said U Zaw Zaw Tun, the REC secretary.

“The displaced women are suffering physical and mental problems because they have to live in cramped and overcrowded conditions. Displaced women have to use unsafe shelters when going to the toilet and taking baths,” he explained. “In addition, some displaced women are struggling to make ends meet due to insufficiency of food. There is landmine risk to the safety of some displaced women when they go fishing.”

Women IDPs are concerned about their personal health and safety, and need sanitary pads, said Daw Hla Hla Chay, a female IDP from Nyaungchaung IDP camp in Kyauktaw Township.

“We feel insecure because we live in the IDP camp as men. Now it is winter and we need warm clothes and sanitary pads,” she added.

The plight and grievances of displaced women will be presented to parliamentarians during the third Arakan State Hluttaw when it convenes next year, said Daw Khin Myo Yin, who won a seat last month for constituency No. 2 in Taungup Township.

“I think the loss of women’s rights as a result of the military conflict should be a top priority. I will also submit to the parliament matters of human rights abuses and sexual violence against women. I am determined to do my best in partnership with women’s civil society,” the incoming lawmaker told DMG.

The Arakan State MP-elect added that she would work to pass a law protecting women’s security and rights, including addressing sexual violence against women, during the next parliamentary session.

Saw San Nyein Thu, chair of the Rakhaing Women’s Initiative Organization (RWIO), said she will work with Arakanese female MPs to effectively address development issues, including women’s security issues, in the local legislature and Union Parliament.

“We are in regular contact with women parliamentarians, and look forward to working with them on tackling issues related to women’s security, women’s peace, and women’s development,” she added.

The RWIO will strive to help Arakanese women MPs equip themselves for the legislative arena ahead, Saw San Nyein Thu said.