Description:
"On the day marking seven months since the Burmese military’s attempted coup, the Women’s
League of Burma (WLB) reinforces our condemnation of the junta’s illegal and unjust seizure
of power and categorically rejects the assault on civilian livelihoods including the infringement
of basic human rights freedoms and protections by the Burmese Army, and in particular the
targeting of women and girls through sexual violence as a weapon of war. WLB also condemns
the junta’s efforts of using its controlled media and personnel to defame women who have
joined resistance forces fighting against them, particularly the junta’s spokesperson shameful
use of sexist and patriarchal language against these brave women.
Since February the first, the whole country has been pushed back to living under constant
threats and insecurity. The military has used all forms of violence including arrest, killing,
torture and sexual assault to suppress any actions taken against the coup. Over 1,000 civilians
have been killed by security forces, including over 73 women. More than 1,084 women were
among 7,300 people arrested simply for their political views.
Moreover, the junta has launched military offensives including airstrikes in Kachin, Karen,
Karenni/Kayah, Rakhine and Shan State and Sagaing Region. As a result, more than 240,000
people have been internally displaced across the country adding to the already-existing
numbers of IDPs. Among those, 80 percent, are women and children who face risks of
malnutrition and sexual violence by the Burmese soldiers. Pregnant women have been forced
to give birth while hiding in the jungle without proper health care. An increase number of rape
and sexual abuse by the junta’s security forces against women has been reported daily.
Besides its brutal attacks against the people, the Burmese military is blocking the routes to
transport humanitarian aid to those in need, or even arresting relief workers. This humanitarian
crisis unfolding across the country has heightened the needs of vulnerable communities
against the backdrop of a raging pandemic. The COVID-19 has allowed the junta to restrict the
movement of opposition forces and to limit civilian access to health care.
WLB reiterates our commitment fighting against all forms of dictatorships in our country
alongside with our alliances in the federal democracy movement as well as with various
international and regional actors to raise awareness about the situation inside Burma, in
particular highlighting the plight of women, girls including all human rights defenders.
On this occasion, we urge international community to act as follows:
To the International Community Categorically reject the military junta by supporting and standing with the people of Burma
to topple the military dictatorship;
To apply pressure on the junta for the immediate and unconditional cessation of military
violence and the release of all arbitrarily detained protesters and political prisoners
including female detainees as well as an end to the use of sexual violence by security forces
against female detainees;..."
Source/publisher:
Women's League of Burma
Date of Publication:
2021-09-01
Date of entry:
2021-09-01
Grouping:
- Individual Documents
Category:
Countries:
Myanmar
Language:
English
Local URL:
Format:
pdf
Size:
230.19 KB
Resource Type:
text
Text quality:
- Good
Remote URL:
fbml (English version)