The Karenni State Police (KSP) reports that it is taking punitive actions against perpetrators to bring justice to victims of sexual violence in Karenni (Kayah) State.
Since the military coup, the KSP has been working with women’s organizations in Karenni State to address cases of sexual violence against women in conflict-affected areas.
Ko Bo Bo, the deputy police chief of the KSP, said: “Our main goal is to ensure that the women affected don’t continue to be victimized. We’re working with women’s organizations to file complaints and ensure fair punishment. In collaboration with women’s organizations, we also conduct awareness programs in the communities about women’s rights.”
Maw Byar Mar Oo, deputy chairperson of the Karenni National Women’s Organization (KNWO), said that victims of sexual violence come forward through women’s organizations and they work with the KSP to resolve the cases.
“Currently, we’re working with the KSP on judicial matters in Karenni State. We’re also linked with the IEC justice teams. We’re working together in this way,” said Maw Byar Mar Oo.
The KSP says it consults with women’s organizations on reported cases of sexual violence against women, files cases against the accused and prosecutes them in the court of the Karenni State Interim Executive Council (IEC).
Ko Bo Bo added that resistance forces also punish their members who commit sexual violence against women, similar to how civilian perpetrators are punished.
“If someone from the resistance forces commits such acts, we work with them to act according to their rules and then hand them back to them. In some cases, we take action ourselves,” he said.
The KSP emphasizes that it primarily helps to ensure justice without discrimination when dealing with perpetrators of violence.
The KSP, which is under the IEC’s internal affairs department, provides law enforcement and security services through 15 police stations and 12 police outposts.
According to the Kayan Women’s Organization (KyWO), over three years since the military coup in Karenni State, there have been 12 cases of domestic violence, two cases of adultery, one case of attempted rape, 10 cases of child rape, two civil cases, three cases of sexual exploitation, seven cases of psychological abuse, two cases of rape, one case of human trafficking and four cases of sexual harassment, for a total of 44 cases.
Sent by NMG.
