Statement by

The Myanmar Observer Delegation

to the sixtieth session of the Commission on Human Rights

 

on

 

Agenda stem 12 (a): "Violence Against Women"

 

Geneva, 5 April 2004


Mr. Chairman,

 

The delegation of Myanmar would like to express our appreciation to the Special Rapporteur Madam Yakin Erturk and her predecessor Madam Radhika Coomaraswamy for their comprehensive reports on "Violence Against Women".

Our delegation has been fully cooperating with the Special Rapporteurs. This was duly recognized in her report. We would like to assure you that we shall continue to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur to the extent possible.

Mr. Chairman,

 

The status of women in our society is unique. The Myanmar culture, traditions, laws and practices have all safeguarded the equality of women in marriage, inheritance and other social affairs. In Myanmar, women are treated with respect and have never been subjected to degrading treatment.


In pursuance of the Beijing Declaration adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women, the Myanmar National Committee for Women Affairs (MNCWA) was formed in 1996. A sub-committee for VAW was set up with a mechanism which is dealing with the complaints by victims of all forms of VAW.


Myanmar became a state party to CEDAW in 1997.

 

The Government also accords a high priority to combat trafficking in person. In 1998, a task force for trafficking in women and children was formed.

 

The MNCWA, in close collaboration with the UN Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking in Mekong Sub-region, and with local and international NGOs organized a series of workshops; set up an inter­disciplinary mobile training team; and published a handbook on combating trafficking in persons which was translated to Myanmar language with the funding from the UN (Ted Turner) Foundation and AusAID.

 

The MNCWA has been transformed into Myanmar Women's Affairs Federation in 2004 to address women's affairs on a wider national scale. The first plenary meeting of states and divisions organizations of the Myanmar Women's Affairs Federation was held on 28-29 March 2004. The meeting adopted the recommendations including inter alia to combat violence against women and trafficking in women and children.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

There have been some allegations of sexual violence against women by the members of the Myanmar Armed Forces. I should like to draw your attention to the fact that some well-funded NGOs have been disseminating such false allegations against the Myanmar Government and the Armed Forces with a malicious intent.

 

It is the consistent policy and practice of the Myanmar Government to prevent any form of violence against women. It has never been the policy to condone such a crime, whether it is committed by a civilian or by a member of the Armed Forces.

 

The investigations into these allegations had been thoroughly carried out by the authorities. Most of those allegations were found to be groundless.

The investigations discovered that the accusations were made, referring to the names of the officers and other ranks who were not actually serving at the respective regiments; and also referring to the regiments which were not even carrying out military operations in the area at the time of the allegations. In some of the allegations, the places mentioned are non-existent and in some of those, there are no such nationals living at the places mentioned in the allegations.

 

The findings showed that out of 173 allegations of sexual violence against women in the Shan State during the period of 1996 to 2001, 5 cases were found to be correct. In those cases, the actions had been already taken against the perpetrators in accordance with the existing laws.

 

The detailed information on the findings had already been transmitted to the Special Rapporteurs.

 

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has now established its presence in the alleged areas since the end of 2002.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

The status of women in Myanmar remains to be among the highest in the world. Nevertheless, the Government of Myanmar is sparing no efforts to combat any kinds of Violence Against Women in the country with our own resources.

 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.