Burmese Women’s Union Urges Concrete International Action Amid Escalating Violence Against Civilians

Burma News International (BNI) is a network of 15 independent media and news organizations based in and around Burma,As violence and human rights violations committed by the Myanmar military continue to escalate nationwide, the Burmese Women’s Union (BWU) has urgently called for precise and concrete international action to end atrocities against civilians.,According to a report released by the BWU on September 4, at least 55 women—including six minors—were killed in August 2026 alone due to military airstrikes, heavy artillery shelling, gunfire, and landmines.,Ma Yin Myo Hlaing, Joint General Secretary 1 of the BWU, emphasized that women and children are bearing the brunt of the military's direct targeting of civilian areas, underscoring the vital need for effective interventions.,“To prevent further loss of innocent lives and achieve the democracy we desire, we want a transition with reduced conflict and violence,” Ma Yin Myo Hlaing said. “A robust mechanism must be established to ensure full accountability for victims of violence, and concrete measures are essential to deliver justice.”,To support survivors and victims, the BWU is actively documenting and publishing evidence of abuses while delivering emergency assistance, including healthcare, food aid, and mental health referrals.,The organization's August data reveals that casualty rates among women were highest in Rakhine (Arakan) State with 17 fatalities, followed by Sagaing Region with 13. Other reported female deaths include nine in Chin State, six in Magway Region, three each in Bago Region and Karenni State, two in Kayin State, and one each in Mandalay and Tanintharyi regions.,Human rights advocates have strongly condemned the junta for weaponizing its air superiority against civilian populations amid mounting battlefield losses.,“I urge the international community to take effective action against the military regime for its ongoing crimes, human rights violations, and breaches of the Geneva Conventions,” said U Myat Tun, Director of the Arakan Human Rights Defenders and Promoters Association (AHRDPA). “They must swiftly face justice before the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ).”,According to BWU documentation, military air and ground operations between January and July 2026 resulted in 358 female deaths and injured 351 others across Myanmar.