A total of 483 women were reportedly killed by the military council during the Spring Revolution, according to a joint statement issued by the Joint Coordination Committee on Gender Policy formed under the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) and the Ministry of Women, Youth and Children Affairs under the National Unity Government (NUG) on the International Women’s Day which falls on 8 March.
Among the women engaged in the Spring Revolution, 3,125 women remain behind bars, 11 women are on death row, 15 women get life sentences and 122 women faced the junta soldiers’ sexual harassment, the joint statement says.
“Following the coup in Myanmar, we all lose our human rights. We get arrested when we make revolution due to loss of human rights. I faced various kinds of oppressions in jail. I felt scared as I myself saw the military council soldiers’ sexual harassment. I still feel worried for the jailed women although I can get out of jail,” said a woman from Yangon who was freed from jail.
It is evidently found that women play a frontline role in all sectors during the Spring Revolution.
We respect and honour those women. All-out efforts shall be made to seek justice for women who experienced the violations of human rights, the joint statement says.
Activists working for women affairs view that violence, oppression and sexual harassment against women is due to a lack of rule of law.
Ma Khin Myint Kyi, a woman affairs activist from Arakan State said: “Young girls face more verbal sexual harassment. Women face insecurity. The main reason is a lack of rule of law. I expect to swiftly seek justice for oppression and insults against women.”
On 22 July, 1997, Myanmar ratified the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
Myanmar’s ratification of the CEDAW is a pledge to abide and respect the provisions of the CEDAW and report on its implementation of convention.
“The public who are living under the military council’s administrative mechanism face a lot of difficulties. Among them, we have heard the news about sexual exploitation of women. Women already have weaknesses in mental security. Amid the dysfunctional administrative mechanism of the military council, the violations of women rights is a huge loss, said Ko Maung Myat Aung, Chair of Arakan-based Moesae Arman New Generation Youth Philanthropic Association.
To observe the International Women’s Day which falls on 8 March, talks are being held across the country.
Sent by Aung Htein (DMG)