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The Women’s League of Burma Presentation

The Women’s League of Burma Presentation. By Thin Thin Aung. Gender Justice Dialogue Mexico, April 2010. Facts about Burma. Series of military regimes ruling since 1962 One of the world’s Least Developed Countries. Cont. Size of army – nearly half a million

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The Women’s League of Burma Presentation

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  1. The Women’s League of Burma Presentation ByThin Thin Aung Gender Justice Dialogue Mexico, April 2010

  2. Facts about Burma Series of military regimes ruling since 1962 One of the world’s Least Developed Countries.

  3. Cont. Size of army – nearly half a million total of over 500 battalions in Burma More than 40% of GDP used on army Less than 1% on health and education

  4. More troops mean More human rights violations

  5. Systematic human rights abuses Committed by the regime’s troops • documented by international human rights organisations and the UN • Including: • forced labour, forced portering • forced relocation • confiscation of lands and crops • arbitrary arrest and detention • extrajudicial killing • torture • Rape as a strategy of war

  6. To Escape war crimes and crimes against humanity several million people particularly from ethnic nationalities area have fled their homes, to become Internally Displaced Persons Refugees Migrant Workers

  7. Crimes against humanity

  8. Result : Fleeing to neighboring countries

  9. estimated around 470,000 Internally Displaced Persons in Burma

  10. over 130,000 refugees in camps

  11. around 2 million migrant workers from Burma in Thailand alone

  12. Women refugees & exiles Despite the limited resources, limitations living as refugees & in stateless situations with lack of legal status in neighbouring countries……

  13. Refugee/exiled women have formed women's groups along Burma's borders To address the needs of their communities To advocate for political change in Burma

  14. Women’s organizations 25 organizations to date around Burma’s borders most with a strong focus on women's human rights, gender equality & women's participation in decision–making processes

  15. 9 December 1999 First umbrella organization for women‘s groups from Burma was founded.

  16. The Women’s League of Burma (WLB)

  17. Ongoing tasks of women’s groups Educating ourselves – skills trainings, languages, confidence building – in order to address community needs Advocating for peace, to put an end to war crimes Working towards genuine political reform and national reconciliation

  18. WLB Programs

  19. Since 2002 Women’s organizations have documented hundreds of cases of rape and other forms of sexual violence committed by the regime’s troops System of Impunity

  20. Women’s organizations from Shan, Karen, Chin and Mon States have given evidence of military rape

  21. Such abuses are very shameful in Burma and it has taken a long time for women and girls to gather the courage to speak out about what has happened to them.

  22. Nationwide military rape in Burma All the ethnic states Central areas of Burma

  23. Sexual violence against women an integral part of the military regime’s strategy: to control the people to intimidate and humiliate the civilian population

  24. Women live in constant fear of rape and other abuses Regime has denied the reports of rape. Regime claims that they have brought peace and stability to Burma

  25. WLB’s advocacy work Issues Refugees & Internally Displaced People Migrant Workers Trafficking Violence against Women Political Prisoners Women Human Rights Defenders Women’s political participation

  26. At the grassroots level At the international level e.g. – UNGA, UNSCR 1325 lobby Week, CSW etc…

  27. CEDAW Shadow Report WLB has produced a CEDAW shadow report WLB has attended the 42nd CEDAW Session in Geneva, and used the report to lobby the CEDAW Committee

  28. Recent Advocacy International Tribunal on Crimes against Women of Burma jointly organized with the Nobel Women’s Initiatives

  29. Conclusion Despite growing international awareness of the problem of Burma, the regime’s troops are still committing state-sponsored human rights violations systematically and with impunity.

  30. Because…. various countries in the world and particularly in Asia are overlooking Burma’s crimes against humanity in favor of their own political and economic agendas

  31. WLB’s calls The international community must act now to prevent further abuses We urge the UN and international governments To continue supporting our movement and our advocacy efforts for peace and democracy in Burma

  32. Cont. To call for International Arms Embargo on Burma To reject the regime-organized elections To form Commission of Inquiry to investigate CAH and War Crimes in Burma. To refer Burma to the ICC

  33. Thank You www.womenofburma.org

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