Press Release: Hidden Strengths, Hidden Struggles: Women’s testimonies from southeast Myanmar

Press Release by Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) | August 3, 2016

Today, at Summit Parkview Hotel in Yangon, Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) launched its thematic report entitled Hidden Strengths, Hidden Struggles: Women’s testimonies from southeast Myanmar which projects the voices of local women from southeast Myanmar and aims to present a comprehensive picture of their changing roles and experiences in this time of ceasefire and democratic change. The report comes ten years after KHRG published Dignity in the Shadow of Oppression, a report highlighting the abuse and agency of women in a highly militarised context during the conflict period. Hidden Strengths, Hidden Struggles highlights issues such as gender-based violence, militarisation, land confiscation, access to healthcare and education, and how continued human rights abuses in southeast Myanmar affect women and men differently, an aspect often overlooked. In addition, it highlights the agency strategies that women employ for self-protection and the challenges women in southeast Myanmar face when attempting to access justice for abuses.

Key issues discussed by KHRG’s Programme Director, Naw Htoo Htoo, during the report launch were that: “In former conflict areas, after the signing of the ceasefires and return of men to their villages, women’s participation in positions of authority actually decreased.” She recommended that: “As women make up half of the population, regardless of any situation, women, from different ethnic backgrounds, should be consulted and equally represented at all levels of governance, decision-making and dialogue”. Another important issue raised by panellist Naw Jasmin, Advocacy Officer for KHRG, was that “despite the ceasefire in place, women continue to feel insecure because of armed actors being present near their villages, which exposes them to an increased risk of gender-based violence”. A prominent panellist, Daw May Sabe Phyu, women’s rights activist, leader of the Kachin Peace Network and senior member of the Gender Equality Network (GEN) Myanmar, discussed the issue of discrimination of women in Myanmar and gave her advice.

Recommendations in Hidden Strengths, Hidden Struggles make reference to Myanmar’s treaty obligations under the Convention for Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The recommendations target the Government of Myanmar, armed actors, civil society organisations and the international community active in southeast Myanmar, urging them to promote women’s rights and ending discrimination against women. Throughout the report KHRG noted agency strategies employed by women to mitigate the effects of abuse and barriers that they face when accessing justice, as well as their perspectives on a range of daily situations that they face, such as one woman from Dooplaya District who stated that: “I want leaders who will stand up and look after the people. The leaders must be honest and keep their word;