Myanmar Women Face Crisis
Human rights advocates, regional leaders and civil society organisations gathered at the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines in Quezon City on Monday for the Myanmar Forum on Women, Peace and Security (WPS).
Naw K’nyaw Paw, General Secretary of the Karen Women’s Organisation, pointed to “four million people internally displaced” and said women were facing ‘double hardship’ as the conflict uproots families across Myanmar.
“Being a woman you need hygiene, you know, sanitation, care for your families, and at the same time, you have to take care of your safety and security because the air bombardments continue. So, many women have lost their lives and also have been injured by the military, air bombardments, mortar shelling, and the fighting in the area,” she explained.
Rights Groups Warn Escalation
Former UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews warned that the crisis had deteriorated dramatically.
“The crisis in Myanmar is exploding. It’s not reducing, it’s exploding,” he said. “You have to listen to those who have the most at stake. You have to listen to those who are in the front lines of this living hell in Myanmar to identify what it is they need. We need to listen to those human rights defenders and those who are providing that humanitarian aid.”
Debbie Stothard, founder and coordinator of ALTSEAN-Burma, gave a stark daily measure of the violence.
“To put it in real terms, today, while we are here at the CHRP, there will be more than 30 armed clashes and attacks on civilians throughout the country,” she said.
Conflict Spreads Across Myanmar
Myanmar’s conflict has intensified since the military seized power in February 2021, overthrowing the elected government. Fighting between the military, resistance forces and ethnic armed groups has spread across the country.
UN figures show almost four million people are internally displaced, while airstrikes, civilian casualties and severe restrictions on humanitarian access continue.
Article by Viory
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