172 cases of sexual and gender-based violence recorded in Shan State, majority committed by husbands or boyfriends, SWAN reports

July 30 Mizzima. A new report released today (July 30) by the Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN) states that 172 cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) have been recorded within Shan State, and that systemic barriers and failures are being encountered in achieving justice. It is understood that over 51.7 percent of these were incidents of domestic and intimate partner violence, numbering 89 cases. The report states that the majority of these incidents were committed by husbands or boyfriends due to drug abuse problems. Furthermore, among the 70 cases of sexual assault and attempted sexual assault, 30 were children under the age of 18. SWAN stated that 15 percent of the perpetrators were soldiers from armed groups, including the military junta’s forces and Ethnic Resistance Organizations (EROs). “The findings show that violence against women and girls in Shan State continues to be a severe and widespread human rights crisis,” said Hseng (Sai), the capacity building program officer at SWAN. It is reported that only about half of the incidents resulted in resolution or action, and over 70 percent of victims reported the incidents to village leaders. However, it is understood that they were treated as private family matters and were either ignored, or resolved through forced marriage or monetary compensation. Of the incidents, 12 survivors were persons with disabilities, and the report states that murder occurred in seven incidents, while self-harm or attempted self-harm was involved in another seven incidents. SWAN officer Nan Kham Ohn said, “Unless violence against women is ended and meaningful justice is achieved for survivors, lasting peace will not be achieved in Myanmar.” SWAN has urged EROs and local administrative bodies to strengthen survivor-centered responses, and has called on the international community to increase targeted sanctions against the Myanmar military and to ensure accountability through mechanisms including the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM). Editor: Aung Kyaw Phyo The post 172 cases of sexual and gender-based violence recorded in Shan State, majority committed by husbands or boyfriends, SWAN reports appeared first on BUR.MIZZIMA.COM.