“Stop All Forms of Violence to End Violence Against Women”: Women’s League of Burma

Statement on Commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women by the Women’s League of Burma (WLB) | November 25, 2015

By resolution 54/134 of 17 December 1999, at the 83^rdsession of the 54^thUnited Nations General Assembly designated 25 November as “the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women”.

On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25, 2015, Women’s League of Burma, looking forwards to establish the Democratic Federal Union and to have inclusive process to end the civil war, urges the government army of Burma to stop using the militarism and launching offensives to ethnic areas.

Women and girls in the Union of Burma are facing with different kinds of violence daily. Especially in ethnic areas, continuous impunity remains for the military personal who continued to commit sexual violence against women and girls. It is found that the increase of violence against women by military is directly related to having military power as well as the militarization.

The lives of women in Union of Burma have been facing lack of security and living with fears everyday for more than half a century. Current heavy offensives in Kachin and Shan Areas make the lives of women not only worrisome but also put under threat. Women and children have been fleeing and hiding as war refugees facing serious difficulties without proper health care.

As more than half of the populations of the union of Burma is women and it is crucial for the security for the lives of women that the militarization should stop, punishments should be taken against those perpetrators, and the impunity for those who abuses should stop as well as there should be rule of law in order for the women to get protected under proper legislation.

Women’s League of Burma also seriously urges for the coming new government to seriously consider to stop the continuous using of violence against women as war weapon while implementing rule of law, ending civil war, establishing genuine peace, amending the constitution as well as to practically implement for the political equality of the ethnic nationalities by establishing genuine Democratic Federal Union.

 

Contacts-

Moon Nay Li   (Steering Committee, Policy Board Member)         +66 (0) 85 5233791

Ying Harn Fah (Steering Committee, Policy Board Member)        +66 (0) 89 2627848

Su Su Swe      (Steering Committee, Policy Board Member)           +95 (0) 9425027681

Julia Marip    (General Secretary)                                                        +95 (0) 907504960