UN agencies spearhead campaign against gender-based violence

By Admin 27 Nov 2024

DMG Newsroom
27 November 2024, Mrauk-U

UNFPA Myanmar, WHO Myanmar, U-Report Myanmar, Legal Clinic Myanmar and women’s organisations launched an online campaign on November 25, calling for cooperation to end violence against women and children.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on Monday marked the launch of the UNiTE campaign — 16 days of activism against gender-based violence from November 25 to December 10.

The online campaign in Myanmar is part of the global effort aiming to highlight violence against women as a critical human rights issue. The campaign is being conducted under the theme: #NoExcuse. UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls.

“Integral to this mission is to end gender-based violence which threatens the health, dignity, safety, and autonomy of women and girls across the world,” Jaime Nadal Roig, UNFPA Representative to Myanmar, told the online campaign.

Women in Myanmar’s conflict zones often face sexual harassment and violence.

“In Myanmar, women and girls are facing serious challenges, especially with the ongoing conflicts and instability. The need for comprehensive support is more urgent than ever,” the head of the Norwegian Embassy in Myanmar, Elisabeth Schwabe-Hansen, told the online campaign.

In October, 71 women were killed and 44 injured in Myanmar due to airstrikes, artillery, drone attacks, landmines, crossfire, arson attacks, and conflict-related sexual violence perpetrated by the junta, according to the Burmese Women’s Union (BWU).

The United Nations reported that at least one in every five married women in Myanmar has experienced physical, sexual or emotional abuse from their intimate partners in their lifetime, according to Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey - MDHS (2015-2016).

In previous years, civil society organisations across Myanmar, including women’s groups, carried out similar “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaigns. However, this year’s activities have been hindered by ongoing conflict.

“Organisations have been further strained by the conflict, with many fleeing the fighting or joining the armed resistance. Although we can’t operate on the ground, we support those who continue their efforts,” said a member of a civil society group in Arakan State.

Ken O’Flaherty, head of the British Embassy in Yangon, on Monday called for urgent measures to address sexual and gender-based violence in Myanmar, saying: “Sexual and gender-based violence has increased rapidly since the military took over in Myanmar. Violence includes unlawful arrests, online violence, human trafficking, sexual exploitation as well as forced marriage at a young age.”