Sexual violence against women reaches new heights: activists 

By Admin 21 Jun 2023

DMG Newsroom 
21 June 2023, Sittwe

The level of sexual violence against women in armed conflicts triggered by the military coup has reached levels not before seen in Myanmar, according to women’s rights activists.

The Women’s League of Burma (WLB) held an online discussion from June 19-20 on the topic of ending sexual violence against women in armed conflicts.

Sexual violence against women has worsened since the coup, said WLB general secretary Ma Naung Moh Moh.

“The regime has carried out various forms of violence targeting women and children since the coup. The situation is worse in areas experiencing armed conflicts,” said Ma Naung Moh Moh.

The safety of women and girls in areas of escalating armed conflict is a growing concern, said activists.

Human rights and women’s rights activist Ma Mee Nge said: “In Sagaing Region, the junta arrested the family members of women who participated in anti-coup protests. Junta soldiers also destroyed their houses, and forced them to watch it. There have been many cases of torture and sexual violence.”

Women’s rights activists say sexual violence takes various forms including rape and sex on the false promise of marriage.

Among the perpetrators are junta soldiers and members of junta-affiliated Border Guard Forces, militias, police, jailers, junta-affiliated Pyu Saw Htee, ward and village authorities, religious leaders, members of political parties, People’s Defense Force personnel, local defence forces, ethnic armed organisations, influential figures of revolution and civilians, said the WLB statement on Wednesday.

Ma Atar, a member of a PDF who took part in the discussion, said: “Not only junta soldiers, but civilians, members of ethnic armed organisations and PDFs also commit sexual violence. Those cases must be recorded, and social punishment must be handed down to them first.”

The WLB has called on revolutionary forces to immediately put a stop to sexual violence in armed conflict. It also demanded that revolutionary forces probe allegations of sexual violence committed by their members.

The organisation also called on international organisations including the United Nations to monitor the Myanmar military’s conduct vis-a-vis sexual violence, abduction, and extrajudicial killings. It called for actions to end systemic impunity in Myanmar.