Concern was raised for the health of two Reuters journalists as they appeared before a court in Yangon for another hearing in their ongoing trial on charges of violating Burma’s Official Secrets Act.

On International Women’s Day, DVB looks at some of the young leaders challenging gender stereotypes and leading Burma’s feminism movement, from lawmakers calling for more protection against gender-based violence. . .

Two Reuters reporters facing charges under Burma’s Official Secrets Act appeared in court again on Wednesday, with the prosecution putting two civilian witnesses on the stand; the owner of a restaurant near the scene of their detention and a hundred-household head who was involved in arresting the journalists.

Burmese journalists gathered to join a rally in Yangon on Friday, calling for the release of two Reuters journalists and campaigning for the public to “stand with the media” in support of press freedom.

This latest hearing came a day after literary rights group PEN America announced it was presenting the Reuters reporters with its Freedom to Write Award.

The United States on Tuesday described Burma’s denials of ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims as “preposterous” as it called on the UN Security Council to hold the military accountable and pressure leader Aung San Suu Kyi “to acknowledge these horrific acts that are taking place in her country.”