Survey reveals acute insecurity among youth in Yangon as forced military conscription escalates

A face-to-face survey of 2,400 young residents in Yangon reveals that nine out of ten youth aged 18 to 25 are deeply concerned about leaving their homes at night due to the risk of arbitrary arrest, robbery, and physical violence. Published on Sunday by the civil rights monitoring organization PACE-Myanmar, the study—titled “Youth Resilience and Future Hopes”—underscores a severe erosion of personal security and freedom of movement under military rule. Overall, 45 per cent of surveyed youth reported feeling “extremely concerned” about being outdoors after dark, while another 44 per cent described themselves as “somewhat concerned.” Remarkably, only one percent of respondents felt “completely safe,” with safety fears reportedly extending directly into private residences at all hours. The survey highlights pervasive anxiety regarding physical safety and state-sponsored repression, with nearly eight in 10 respondents expressing worry over facing life-threatening physical violence or sexual assault. Moreover, 42 per cent of young people identified the regime’s conscription law—enforced since February 2024 for males aged 18 to 35 and females aged 18 to 27—as a primary obstacle to achieving their personal and professional goals, alongside broader political instability. Beyond the immediate threats of violence and forced enlistment, the survey documented widespread distress regarding severe financial hardship, shrinking employment opportunities, and declining social trust across urban communities. The post Survey reveals acute insecurity among youth in Yangon as forced military conscription escalates appeared first on DVB.