Myanmar’s human rights and humanitarian catastrophe is preventing the full, equal, safe and inclusive participation of women and LGBT members in peace and state-building efforts, the Women’s Peace Network (WPN) says in its new briefing paper, “The situation of Women, Peace, and Security in Myanmar”.
The paper addresses the dire situation of sexual and gender minorities, particularly women and girls, during the nearly four-year period since the Burmese military’s 1 February 2021 attempted coup.
It draws attention to the military’s arbitrary arrest, detention, torture, sexual and gender-based violence, forced recruitment, killing, air strikes and ground attacks, all of which have disproportionately targeted women and children.
It also analyses how such conditions have aggravated the economic and livelihood conditions of this group, in particular through denial of full and unfettered humanitarian access, forced displacement in Myanmar, and mass exodus of civilians to precarious conditions across South and Southeast Asia.
As the paper emphasises, Myanmar’s deteriorating human rights and humantarian catastrophe have obstructed avenues for the full, equal and meaningful participation of all people of Myanmar.
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Despite the barriers. Myanmar women – including women human rights defenders, women politicians and women resistance fighters – have made unparalleled contributions in advancing the pro-democracy movement.
The paper highlights these women’s critical work, ranging from leading local humanitarian relief efforts to building emerging governance structures essential to the country’s inclusive, federal democracy.
“Women in Myanmar have led the nationwide, people-led resistance against the junta, sacrificing everything to overcome life-threatening threats against them because of who they are and what they do,” says Wai Wai Nu, WPN’s founder and executive director.
“For my fellow ethnic and religious minority women, this struggle has been going on for generations due to the Burmese military’s decades-long atrocities targeted at us. It is past time the international community takes action.”
The WPN also highlights measures for comprehensively resolving the Myanmar crisis, including by dismantling the various barriers to women’s full, equal, meaningful and safe participation in the country’s present and future.
Specific recommendations are provided to UN member states and donor governments, the UN secretariat and the UN system, and the UN Security Council.
Wai Wai Nu says: “As I told the Security Council’s open debate on WPS [women, peace and security] today, as a civil society speaker, addressing the root causes of conflict is vital for ensuring women’s full participation in Myanmar’s future, and when the key perpetrators of decades of atrocities remain unpunished, impunity is the root cause.
“The Security Council, UN and all stakeholders must do everything to end all forms of impunity in Myanmar starting today, as a fundamental step to building the conditions necessary for the effective implementation of the WPS agenda.” – WPN
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
