16 Days Of Activism: Strengthening Gender-Based Violence Prevention And Response In Myanmar

A Talk Show on “Strengthening gender-based violence prevention and response in Myanmar” took place at Goethe-Institut in Yangon on 9th December.

The UNFPA Myanmar organized the talk show to create an opportunity for dialogue between the government leaders, policy makers, activists, development partners as well as women, girls, men and boys on gender equality and gender-based violence in Myanmar.

Finnish Ambassador to Myanmar Ms Riika Laatu delivered the opening speech at the talk show.

According to the WHO, globally, one in three women is subjected to violence at some point in their lives. In every country in the world, gender-based violence remains as unsolved social issue.

Representative, UNFPA Myanmar, Ramanathan Balakrishnan said “Prevention violence against women is extremely important because that is fundamental part of; it’s a way every women can achieve the full potential in the society and contribute to the economic and political prosperity of the country. However, when violence against women is not checked and it is not eliminated, it’s seriously limit the ability to participate in public life, to achieve their own potential and also to help achieve the country.”

The 16 days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence Campaign was also started across the country under the theme ‘Generation Equality: Stands Against Rape’. It is an international campaign to challenge violence against women and girls. The Champaign runs every year form 25th November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against women, to 10th December, Human Rights Day.

This talk show is organized as part of the 16 days of Activism to end Gender-based Violence.

Chairperson, Karenni National Women's Organization (KNWO), Mie Mie said “It is the commemoration ceremony of “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Champaign”. Today talk show, I will share the current information of violence against women and girls in Myanmar including Karenni Region. When violence happens, people see only physical suffering. But there are many women and girls suffering mentally from various emotional abuses.”

Under the 16 days of Activism themes “Generation Equality: Stands Against Rape” and “Prevent Violence against Women by the Law” the panel members, discussed how access to gender-based violence services can be enhanced especially for the most vulnerable populations, progress made on the development of the legal and policy framework and how to mobilize social change to prevent gender-based violence.