At least 1,986 women, including 373 girls under the age of 18, have been killed by the regime since it seized power during a military coup on Feb. 1, 2021, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) on Thursday.
“Women have been deliberately targeted by the junta through killings, arbitrary arrest, sexual violence, torture, and other grave human rights violations,” stated the AAPP, a group founded by former Myanmar political prisoners in neighbouring Thailand.
The AAPP went on to state that 75 percent of the total number of women killed was by airstrikes and heavy weaponry used by the military against civilians. The remaining 25 percent of victims were killed by arson, shootings, and sexual violence, as well murder, torture, and health complications while held in regime detention.
Women aged 18 to 35 constitute the largest single group at 24 percent of the total number killed, followed by those under 18 years-old at 23.8 percent. This means that nearly half of all female victims were under 35 years of age.
Women aged 45 to 64 account for 18.8 percent of the total number of those killed, while 36 to 44 year-olds represent 12.1 percent. Those over age 65 constitute 12 percent of all women killed since 2021. The ages of an additional 9.3 percent of women killed was unknown with AAPP verifying over 90 percent of victims’ ages, the report stated.
Sagaing Region recorded the highest number of women killed at 654. This was followed by Arakan State at 265. Magway Region was third at 201 women killed. Mandalay Region was fourth at 183. But the actual number of women killed nationwide is likely higher due to limited access and ongoing conflict. according to AAPP data.
Women in Myanmar subjected to “widespread” arrests
Since the 2021 coup, 6,222 women in Myanmar were arrested for political reasons, including 127 girls under the age of 18.
Yangon Region recorded the highest number with 1,580 women detained, followed by Mandalay Region with 1,009, and Sagaing Region with 802, the AAPP report added.
It has documented “systematic” physical, psychological, and sexual abuse faced by women in detention. This begins at the time of arrest and continues through interrogation and imprisonment by regime authorities.
Testimonies from former female political prisoners to the AAPP describes torture, beatings, sexual assault, invasive body searches, and constant surveillance from male authorities, which includes CCTV cameras in women’s prison wards.
At least 2,237 people have died in detention since the 2021 coup, including an undisclosed number of women who were killed through torture, neglect, or denial of medical care.
The AAPP report stated its figures are based on verified cases with confirmed identities, adding that thousands of additional deaths and arrests of women remain unverified.
The human rights group called for urgent international action to protect women and children in Myanmar, and to ensure justice and accountability for crimes committed by the military since the 2021 coup.
