Women of Burma Attend Global Summit To End Sexual Violence In Conflict

By Women's League of Burma • June 12, 2014

A delegation of women from Burma have joined the Global Summit To End Sexual Violence In Conflict. The Summit is being held in London this week, hosted by British Foreign Secretary William Hague and Angelina Jolie.

The summit is part of a new initiative on preventing sexual violence being led by the British government. The summit has four main goals:

* To improve investigations/documentation of sexual violence in conflict;

* To provide greater support and assistance and reparation for survivors, including child survivors, of sexual violence;

* To ensure sexual and gender based violence responses and the promotion of gender equality are fully integrated in all peace and security efforts, including security and justice sector reform; and

* To improve international strategic co-ordination.

Women’s League of Burma (WLB) Joint General Secretary 1, Wahku Shee has been invited to participate on an expert panel: ‘The Call To Action on protecting women and girls in emergencies.’ WLB General Secretary Tin Tin Nyo and WLB Advocacy Team member, K’Nyaw Paw are taking part in a mock trial on whether UN Security Council Resolution 1325, on women and peace and security, has been effective.

Resolution 1325 reaffirms the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction and stresses the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security. Resolution 1325 urges all actors to increase the participation of women and incorporate gender perspectives in all United Nations peace and security efforts. It also calls on all parties to conflict to take special measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence, particularly rape and other forms of sexual abuse, in situations of armed conflict.

Women delegates from Burma include:
Tin Tin Nyo – WLB/BWU
Naw Susanna Hla Hla Soe – Karen Women’s Empowerment Group
Wahku Shee – WLB/KWO
Moon Nay Li – WLB/KWAT
May Sabe Phyu – Kachin Peace Network
Nang Hseng Moon – WLB/SWAN
Htay Htay – Shan Women’s Action Network/WLB
Naw K’Nyaw Paw – WLB/KWO

“The large delegation of women from Burma attending this summit demonstrates that sexual violence in conflict is moving up the international agenda. What the delegation are looking for is concrete action from the Burmese government to end sexual violence, now that they have signed the International Declaration,” said Tin Tin Nyo, General Secretary of the Women’s League of Burma.

In February 2014 Women’s League of Burma released a new report, ‘Same Patterns, Same Impunity’, documenting the ongoing use of rape and sexual violence by the Burmese Army since elections were held in 2010. The report is available here: http://womenofburma.org/same-impunity-same-pattern-report-of-systematic-sexual-violence-in-burmas-ethnic-areas/

Media Contact:
Tin Tin Nyo: +44(0)7708600744
Wahku Shee: +44(0)7708639909