Burmese Women

The world has not fully known the hidden beauty and grace of the Burmese women because they are first and foremost concerned with survival rather than showcasing their natural talents and sparkling charms for which they were known in the 'good old days'.

Burmese Women, like other women in 'less developed countries', face tough challenges of gender inequality. Burmese women are relegated to the background by the men who have unrestricted access to the spoils of the political system.

The Burmese society is economically disjointed in which many country men and women wallow in abject poverty. Burma is one of the countries in the world that women are not given opportunity to serve in the top positions of public service.

These are some of the most serious problems confronting Burmese women today. Therefore, the women's chances of excelling in difference fields of human endeavours have been hampered to a great extent. Many are now victims of forced labour and prostitution in neighbouring countries such as Thailand.

The military junta carries the larger part of the blame; they have refused to put necessary measures in place for the empowerment of Burmese women and children.

To make matters worse, the military is implicated in women trafficking. Allegedly, some soldiers rape women with impunity.

The United Nations Development Programme's 1997 Human Development Report scored the Burmese military government very low in the education and health sectors.

Burma occupied 133rd position out of the 174 countries rated in UNDP'S Human Development Index. The health sector is inadequately financed and more than 40% of the Burmese have no access to clean water and sanitary systems. Investors in the country, mostly foreigners, have little regard for the health of their employees.

Many foreigners who own textile factories employ mostly women and children who work in very poor conditions.

Women also are directly abused by soldiers in the densely militarized areas along Burmese borders. There has been a Burmese military campaign against minority ethnic nationalities.

There are allegations that superior Army Commanders guarding forced labour projects request sexual gratification from the women in return for less difficult work or outright freedom from detention.

About forty thousand Burmese women are engaged as commercial sex workers in Thailand. Some of these women were kidnapped or deceived with fake promises of lawful employment.

Many of these women have contracted serious sexually transmitted disease such as HIV/AIDS, syphilis etc.

Some of the women were sold in prostitution for small amounts such as forty to forty five dollars. On the political front, many women have distinguished themselves in areas of human rights and advocation of democracy. These courageous women have shown the world the positive side of the Burmese women.

These are women of unequalled dignity and worth. Such women include Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Ma Thida, Sansan Mwe and Daw Sah San among others. There are also women advocacy groups such as the women's league of Burma (WLB) and Shan women's Action Network.

These organizations have been campaigning vigorously for gender equality, democracy peace and national reconciliation.