Burma - Myanmar

Burma has a population of 50 million (UN, 2009) with an area of 676,552 sq km (261,218 sq miles). The capital is Nay Pyi Taw. The major languages are Burmese and indigenous ethnic languages.

Considered as one of the poorest countries in Asia, Burma, also known as Myanmar, is ruled by a military junta and experiences widespread human rights abuses and violations, despite international condemnation and sanctions. Ethnic minority leaders and activists have been detained for expressing concern about the status and role of their states and interests under the new constitution.

Burma (Myanmar) ratified The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on the 22nd of July 1997.
Burma (Myanmar) does not have a National Action Plan on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325)
Burma (Myanmar) does not have a UN peacekeeping mandate

Sources:BBC; Amnesty International; UNIFEM

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April 12, 2013 (Mizzima)
BURMA: Amid Praise, End to Sexual Violence: G8 The G8 Foreign Ministers noted that since President Thein Sein took office, Myanmar has made great steps towards democracy and to strengthen the rule of law. The comments came at the international world leaders' summit in London on April 10 and 11.
April 10, 2013 (AlertNet)
BURMA: Rohingya Rapes Caused Myanmar Refugee Fight-Indonesia Police The rape and sexual harassment of three stateless Rohingya Muslim women caused last week's deadly brawl between Burmese and Rohingya refugees at an immigration centre on Sumatra, an Indonesian police report said.
March 11, 2013 (The Myanmar Times)
BURMA: Women's Organisations Call for Voice in Kachin Conflict Talks The Women's Initiative Network for Peace has urged President U Thein Sein and the Deputy Commander in Chief of the Kachin Independence Organization to include representatives of ethnic women's civil society groups in all aspects of peace processes.
February 28, 2013 (Democratic Voice of Burma)
BURMA: After Riot, Locals Blame Police While State Media Blasts Protestors Ma-Ubin residents said riot police incited the violence that led to rioting in the Irrawaddy Delta township on Tuesday night, while a government media outlet blamed protestors for attacking police officers.
February 28, 2013 (The Irrawaddy)
BURMA: Kachin Shelling Killed 9 Civilians since September: Rights Group In the past five months nine civilians were killed and fourteen injured in Kachin State as a result of Burmese military artillery fire, a Kachin human rights group alleges. It said army units also torched hundreds of homes and committed acts of sexual violence against local women and girls.

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BURMA: Concerns and Recommendations Regarding Peace Funds , Burma's ethnic community and civil society organizations, 8 October 2012 | Download PDF
BURMA: From Persecution to Deprivation: International Donors Neglect 60.000 Displaced Kachin on China-Burma Boarder , Kachin Women's Association Thailand, 2 October 2012 | Download PDF
BURMA: Burma after the By-elections: Taking Gender and Human Security into Account, Global Gender Program, April 11, 2012
Burma is the Country at Highest Risk of Genocide, Global Justice Center, January 2012 | Download PDF
Burma's Covered up War: Atrocities Against the Kachin People , Kachin Women's Association Thailand (KWAT) , October 2011 | Download PDF

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BURMA: YWCA of Myanmar Empowering Young Women, Training & Workshops, , 3 April 2013
BLOG: Day 6: Burma Beyond the Facade, Online Dialogues & Blogs, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom- Sweden (WILPF) (IKFF), November 30, 2012
BLOG: Alex Wagner: Sitting Down With Aung San Suu Kyi Will Be a Moment of Great Joy, Responsibility, Online Dialogues & Blogs, Amnesty International (AI), 19 September 2012
BURMA: Women Should be Part of Peace Process: Group, Conferences & Meetings, Women's League of Burma (WLB), 20th of June 2012
Women's League of Burma Calls for Greater Women's Participation in Peace Process, Campaigns, Women's League of Burma (WLB), May 15, 2012

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The Burma Campaign
Women's League of Burma (WLB)
Karen Womens Organization (KWO)
Woman and Child Rights Project (WCRP)
To monitor the woman and child rights situation in Mon areas and southern part of Burma, by collecting information about their real situation in the reference to the CEDAW and CRC. To empower and educate women and children in the Mon community, by providing information on their rights accordingly to CEDAW and CRC and encourage them to participate in the struggle in protection of their own rights.
Burmese Women's Union (BWU)
"BWU believes that unity and the participation of women is the basic unit for building a developed society. The BWU promotes and empowers women's roles in different fields. Discrimination against women causes hated, envy, revenge and other negative forces towards women and in society as a whole. Traditionally, women are viewed as beings meant to be tended to, taken care of and treated gently. We must realize that these notions only serve to undermine our self-confidence and self esteem.

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