Nearly 500 women dead at the hands of junta since coup, opposition groups say

By Admin 08 Mar 2023

DMG Newsroom
8 March 2023, Sittwe

A total of 483 women have died at the hands of the military junta since the coup, according to a joint statement marking International Women’s Day by the parallel National Unity Government’s Women, Youths, and Children Affairs Ministry and the National Unity Consultative Council’s Gender Policy Coordination Committee.

The statement said 3,125 women remain in prison, 11 of whom have been given death sentences, 15 to life imprisonment, and 122 were sexually assaulted by junta personnel.

“Myanmar has become devoid of human rights since the coup. We were arrested when we revolted against human rights violations. We were subjected to various forms of mistreatment in prison. I saw junta soldiers sexually harassing female detainees with my own eyes. I was frightened. Though I have been released from prison now, I am still worried about other female detainees,” said a female former political prisoner from Yangon who was arrested for protesting the coup but has since been released.

The joint statement praised women for playing various roles in the Spring Revolution, and vowed to serve justice for women who have been subjected to human rights violations.

Violence, oppression, and sexual assessment of women has increased across the country because of the fact that there is no rule of law, according to women’s rights activists.

“There has been a surge in verbal sexual harassment. Women are devoid of safety. It is mainly because there is no rule of law. We hope that justice will be served as soon as possible for women that suffer from oppression and violence,” said women’s rights activist Ma Khin Myint Kyi from Arakan State.

Myanmar ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on July 22, 1997. 

Nonetheless, women continue to suffer from rights violations, said Ko Maung Myat Aung, chairman of the Arakan State-based Moese Arrman New Generation of Youths charity.

“People have had a lot of difficulties under military rule. And women have also suffered from sexual abuse. Women have long suffered from emotional insecurity, and women have their rights violated under military rule,” he said.

International Women’s Day was observed in many parts of Myanmar on Wednesday.