Exiled Burmese women and International Day of the Elimination of Violence Against Women

DVB ( 26 November 2003 )

Exiled Burmese women took part in a ceremony organized by the UNHCR in Bangkok to mark the International Day of the Elimination of Violence Against Women and issued a statement as follows:

25 November 2003

International Day of the Elimination of Violence Against Women is the day on which the international communities express their solidarity towards those women who have been experiencing various forms of violence across the world.

In many countries, women are facing various forms of violence committed to them. Millions of women in the world face gender-based discrimination, physical and mental violence such as violence during the conflicts, trafficking, female infanticide, abuse by her partner, forced marriage, dowry death, honour related killings by the family members.

Violation of the human rights of women from Burma include rape, trafficking, forced to leave their homes to become refugees, exploited and killed in other countries while working illegally, victimized by the military's used of systematic rape to defeat the ethnic armed groups, and being attacked for their political belief.

Especially the country's ethnic women such as Shan, Karen, Karenni, Mon, Tavoy women were raped and sexually abused while farming, during forced labour assignments and forced relocation by the SPDC soldiers at the behest of their high-ranking officers. Chin, Kachin, Rakhaing ethnic women were also raped and sexually abused by the SPDC soldiers. Burma's successive military regimes have been committing sexual violence and other forms of oppression to the women of Burma until today.

Attack and murder of the women members and supporters of the National League for Democracy party were also seen in Depayin massacre where Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD members were brutally attacked by the SPDC 's thugs on May 30 this year.

We believe that violence against women can be prevented effectively in Burma only when democracy, peace, and rule of law are restored after the elimination of the militarization.

We extend our respect and great tribute to those women who have fought and campaigned for the elimination of violence against women in the world, and we will continue our struggle together with our sisters around the world.

Contact tel: + 91 989 125 2316 (or) + 66 1 88 44 96
E-mail: wlb@loxinfo.co.th
Web: www.womenofburma.org